Apparatus and method for providing job searching services, recruitment services and/or recruitment-related services

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, including a memory device for storing work schedule information or scheduling information for an individual, independent contractor, temporary worker, or freelancer; a receiver for receiving a first request containing a request to obtain work schedule information or scheduling information for the individual, independent contractor, temporary worker, or freelancer, wherein the first request is received from a first communication device associated with an employer or hiring entity; a processing device for processing information contained in the first request, wherein the processing device generates a first message containing the work schedule information or the scheduling information for the individual, the independent contractor, the temporary worker, or the freelancer; and a transmitter for transmitting the first message to the first communication device. The apparatus processes information contained in a second request and reserves, engages, or requests, the services of the individual, independent contractor, temporary worker, or freelancer.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/315,124, filed Nov. 29, 2008, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FORPROVIDING JOB SEARCHING SERVICES, RECRUITMENT SERVICES AND/ORRECRUITMENT-RELATED SERVICES”, which, in turn, is a continuationapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/691,796, filed Oct.23, 2003, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING JOB SEARCHINGSERVICES, RECRUITMENT SERVICES AND/OR RECRUITMENT-RELATED SERVICES”, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,490,086, which, in turn, is a continuation applicationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/612,528, filed on Jul. 7, 2000,and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING JOB SEARCHING SERVICES,RECRUITMENT SERVICES AND/OR RECRUITMENT-RELATED SERVICES”, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,662,194, the subject matter of which are hereby incorporated byreference herein in their entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/612,528, filed on Jul. 7, 2000, claims the benefit of priority ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/146,776, filed Jul. 31,1999, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING JOB SEARCHINGSERVICES, RECRUITMENT SERVICES AND/OR RECRUITMENT-RELATED SERVICES”, thesubject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method forproviding job searching services, recruitment services and/orrecruitment-related services and, in particular, to an apparatus and amethod for providing job searching services, recruitment services and/orrecruitment-related services as they may relate to individuals,independent contractors, freelancers, employers and/or hiring entities,in a network environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Individuals, independent contractors, and/or freelancers, can expendgreat efforts and a great deal of time in job searching efforts.Individuals, independent contractors, and/or freelancers, typicallyplace a great deal of importance on their job searching efforts, onefforts directed to securing employment, both permanently and/ortemporarily as a temporary employee and/or “contract” employee, and/oron efforts directed to obtaining and/or securing projects and/orassignments.

Employers and/or hiring entities require that they have a satisfactoryworkforce in order to meet the demands of doing business. In thisregard, employers and/or hiring entities very often need to find and/orrecruit new employees, replace former employees, find employees with newskills to meet their business needs, and/or obtain the services oftemporary workers, independent contractors, and/or freelancers.

Growing businesses and markets have been created by the need forindividuals, independent contractors, and/or freelancers to find and/orto secure jobs, employment, projects and/or assignments, and by the needof employers and/or hiring entities to recruit and hire new employees,independent contractors, and/or freelancers. These businesses andmarkets include employment agencies, recruiters, so-called“headhunters”, employment and/or career consultants, temporaryemployment agencies, personal agents, personal managers, and/or otherintermediaries, who or which, respectively, bring the respective partiestogether and/or assist them in obtaining introductions, establishing adialog between parties, reaching agreement on, and/or establishing anemployment, an independent contractor, and/or a freelance relationship.

Job searching activities and recruitment activities typically requireefforts in introducing parties to one another, pre-screening the partiesprior to, and/or subsequent to, an introduction, acting as aninformation gathering entity for a party, exchanging information inorder to determine if a relationship is appropriate and/or desirable,negotiating a deal, and/or consummating a deal between the respectiveparties. While individuals and/or employers and/or hiring entities canact on their own behalf during most of the process, one of the partiesmay typically enlist the efforts of an employment agency or agencies, arecruiter(s), a so-called “headhunter(s)”, an employment and/or careerconsultant(s), a temporary employment agency or agencies, a personalagent(s), a personal manager(s), and/or another intermediary orintermediaries, sometimes at great expense.

The enlistment of employment agencies, recruiters, so-called“headhunters”, employment and/or career consultants, temporaryemployment agencies, personal agents, personal managers, and/or otherintermediaries, can be costly and can lead to job search efforts and/orrecruitment efforts which may be limited in breadth and/or scope by thepersonal and/or individual contacts, limitations and/or constraintsassociated with the employment agency, recruiter, so-called“headhunter”, employment and/or career consultant, temporary employmentagency, personal agent, personal manager, and/or other intermediary.

In this regard, job search efforts and/or recruitment efforts may belimited, thereby depriving an individual and/or an employer and/orhiring entity of being introduced to the best possible candidates. Insome instances, an employer and/or hiring entity may forgo access tocertain candidates simply because they cannot and/or refuse to enlistthe efforts of a recruiter and/or other intermediary.

Job searching efforts and recruitment efforts may be limited by and/orbe constrained by limited personal contacts, geographical constraints,monetary constraints, and/or time constraints. Oftentimes, individuals,employers and/or hiring entities, do not have the resources to conducttheir own respective job searching efforts or recruitment efforts. Theenlistment of employment agencies, recruiters, so-called “headhunters”,employment and/or career consultants, temporary employment agencies,personal agents, personal managers, and/or other intermediaries, may notbe sufficient to overcome these limitations and/or constraints,particularly, if the respective employment agency or agencies,recruiter(s), so-called “headhunter(s)”, employment and/or careerconsultant(s), temporary employment agency or agencies, personalagent(s), personal manager(s) and/or other intermediary orintermediaries, are working with similar limitations and/or constraints.

The job search process and/or the recruitment process can typically berendered more difficult in instances when additional information may berequested by one or by both of the parties concerning a counterpart.This typically results in time delays and/or additional expense to theparty having to comply with such a request.

Job searching efforts and/or recruitment efforts may further be renderedmore difficult when the parties are not properly pre-screened, therebyresulting in wasted time and effort, and/or when the parties are notproperly informed as to the needs and/or demands of a counterpart. Theneeds and/or demands can include job description, job needs, projectdescription, assignment description, salary, compensation, and/or otherrelated information. The failure to pre-screen the parties and/or toconduct a dialog and/or initiate interviews and/or discussions when theparties may be so far apart regarding their respective needs, requestsand/or expectations, for example, those involving job duties and/orsalary, can result in wasted time and effort.

Confidentiality is typically another concern in job searching activitiesand/or in recruitment activities. Individuals, employees, and/or hiringentities may have an interest in, and/or a desire for, maintainingconfidentiality during at least some initial stages of any job searchand/or recruitment effort. In some instances, once an initial interestis expressed, any confidentiality which may have existed may be lost forthe remainder of the process. Sometimes, it may be desirable for anindividual, an employer and/or hiring entity, to retain at least somelevel of confidentiality and/or anonymity further into the job searchand/or recruitment process. In this manner, at least someconfidentiality and/or anonymity can be preserved, especially if a dealbetween the parties is not ultimately reached.

Job searching activities and/or recruitment activities may be far toowidespread and may be far too important to be limited by theabove-described limitations and/or constraints. Individuals, employersand/or hiring entities would be better served by a system whichovercomes the shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus and method of the present invention overcomes theshortcomings of the prior art and provides an apparatus and a method forproviding job searching services, recruitment services and/orrecruitment-related services. The present invention utilizes thetechnologies and advances in information technology and in communicationtechnology in order to provide these services in a network environment.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method forproviding job searching services, recruitment services and/orrecruitment-related services, for the respective individuals, employees,independent contractors, freelancers, employers and/or hiring entities,described herein in a network environment. The present invention alsoprovides a centralized apparatus, which can also serve as aclearinghouse, which provides job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, as well as any of theservices and/or activities described herein.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can be utilized byindividuals, independent contractors, freelancers, and/or otherentities, desirous of securing a job, a position, a project, anassignment, and/or an employment relationship, either permanent and/ortemporary, with an employer and/or a hiring entity. The apparatus andmethod of the present invention can also be utilized by employers and/orby other hiring entities desirous of securing the services of anindividual, an employee, an independent contractor, and/or freelancer,either permanently and/or temporarily.

The present invention can also be utilized by an employment agency, arecruiter, a so-called “headhunter”, or other intermediary, in order toassist and/or to act on behalf of any of the individuals, employersand/or hiring entities described herein. The present invention can alsobe utilized in order to provide agency services for any of the hereindescribed parties, i.e., individual, employees, independent contractors,freelancers, employers, hiring entities, recruiters, headhunters, etc.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can be utilized in anetwork environment in order to effectuate any of the services describedherein on, or over, any communication network.

The apparatus can include a central processing computer or servercomputer, at least one or more individual computers and at least one ormore employer computers. Each of the herein-described computers maycommunicate with any and all of the computers which are utilized inconjunction with the apparatus of the present invention. The presentinvention may be utilized in any communication network such as theInternet, the World Wide Web, a telecommunications network, and/or anyother communication network described herein and/or otherwise.

Each of the central processing computer(s), the individual computers,and/or the employer computers can include any and/or all components,peripherals, hardware, and/or software, for facilitating the use thereofin a manner consistent with the present invention as described herein.

The central processing computer may also include, and/or be linked to, adatabase(s) and/or other storage and/or memory device(s) for storing anyand/or all of the data and/or information described as being utilized,and/or which may be utilized, in conjunction with the present invention.

The present invention provides job search services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, while preservingconfidentiality among and/or between the parties and/or between theparties and third parties, and may further provide for varying layers ofconfidentiality for the parties involved. The present invention can alsoprovide enhanced information services for the parties utilizing same,including but not limited to, links, hyperlinks, and/or other pointingand/or linking devices for linking a user to additional and/orsupplemental information concerning any of the individuals, employers,hiring entities, and/or other parties, involved in a dialog,negotiations and/or discussions.

The data and/or information utilized in conjunction with the presentinvention can also be utilized by the various individuals, employers,hiring entities, contractors, applicants, recruiters, headhunters, thirdparty intermediaries, and/or the operator and/or the administrator ofthe apparatus, and can be uploaded to, downloaded from, and/or be storedand/or be resident on any of the central processing computer(s), theindividual computer(s), and/or the employer computer(s).

The apparatus and method of the present invention can be utilized toperform various job-searching services, recruitment services and/orrecruitment-related services and/or functions. The present invention maybe utilized by an individual, a prospective employee, an independentcontractor, a freelancer, either permanent or temporary, to find or tolocate a job, a position, a project and/or an assignment, for which theymay wish to apply. The present invention can also be utilized by anemployer and/or hiring entity to recruit and/or to search for, anindividual, a prospective employee, an independent contractor, and/or afreelancer, either permanent or temporary.

The present invention can also be utilized by a recruiter, a headhunter,and/or a third party intermediary, in order to assist an individual, aprospective employee, an independent contractor, and/or a freelancer, insearching for a job, a position, a project, and/or an assignment, and/orfor assisting an employer and/or a hiring entity in searching for,and/or for recruiting an individual, a prospective employee, anindependent contractor, and/or a freelancer, in order to fill a hiringand/or other need.

The present invention may also be utilized to notify an individual, aprospective employee, an independent contractor, and/or freelancer, ofthe existence and/or the availability of an opportunity for and/orrelated to a job, a position, a project and/or an assignment. Thepresent invention may also be utilized to notify an employer and/or ahiring entity of the availability of an individual, a prospectiveemployee, an independent contractor, and/or freelancer.

Any and/or all of the communications between the parties may be effectedvia electronic message transmission, e-mail, electronic formssubmission, a telephone call, telephone messaging, facsimile messaging,pager and/or beeper messaging, physical mailing, and/or via any otherappropriate method, means and/or mechanism.

Employers and/or other hiring entities can post data and/or listinformation regarding jobs, employment positions, temporary positions,assignments, freelance assignments, contracting assignments and/or jobs,as well as any other assignments, projects and/or efforts which requireand/or which may require the services of an individual, an employee, anindependent contractor, a freelancer, a temporary employee, etc, withthe present invention.

Similarly, individuals, job applicants, prospective employees,independent contractors, temporary workers, and/or freelancers, etc.,can also post and/or list data and/or information regarding themselveswith the present invention.

The present invention can be utilized in order to allow employers and/orhiring entities to bid for individuals, employees, independentcontractors, and/or freelancers. The present can also be utilized inorder to allow individuals and/or their agents and/or managers toauction and/or offer their services to employers and/or to hiringentities.

The present invention can be utilized for managing work schedules,and/or for maintaining information regarding work schedules for anindividual or entity, including, but not limited to any job applicant,temporary worker, independent contractor, and/or freelancer. An employerand/or hiring entity can obtain information regarding the work,temporary assignment, and/or project or assignment, schedules for anyindividual or entity utilizing the present invention. An employer and/orhiring entity may hire and/or reserve the time of and/or the servicesof, the individual and/or entity via the present invention.

The present invention can also provide an individual and/or an employerand/or hiring entity with data and/or information regarding the latestdevelopments and/or current developments in the employment and/orrecruiting fields, including, but not limited to, growth areas, demandinformation for certain jobs and/or professions, salary surveys, etc. Inthis manner, the present invention can provide information for allowingan individual, an employer and/or hiring entity to determine the stateof the job market and/or to utilize this information in any appropriatemanner so as to minimize the time, effort and/or expense of jobsearching efforts and/or recruitment efforts.

The present invention can also provide notification to any of theindividuals, employers and/or hiring entities, when and/or ifinformation is being and/or has been requested about he, she or it. Thepresent invention can also provide the identity of the party requestingthe information to the respective individual, employer and/or hiringentity.

The present invention can also provide for the blockage of any access,authorized and/or unauthorized, to any of the data and/or informationutilized in conjunction with the present invention and/or concerning anyindividual, entity, employer, and/or hiring entity, utilizing thepresent invention. The present invention can also provide any dataand/or information specifically, generically, generally, such as for agroup, and/or statistically and/or in any other manner.

The present invention can also be utilized so as to prevent certainindividuals and/or entities, employers and/or hiring entities, fromaccessing the data and/or information about any other individual,entity, employer, and/or hiring entity.

The operation of the present invention may be triggered by any type ofpre-specified event and/or occurrence which may include a new individuallisting, a new employer and/or hiring entity listing, a departure of anindividual from an employer, the completion of a job, project and/orassignment, changes in an economic factor(s), changes in a marketfactor(s), an increase in an unemployment rate, the unemployment of anindividual, a detected need for jobs having a certain skill(s), and/orany other event, situation, and/or any other occurrence which may bedeemed to have some relationship and/or effect related to job searchingefforts and/or recruitment efforts.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can also be utilizedfor performing and/or for facilitating the provision of recruitmentservices for schools, colleges, universities, and/or any organizationsof any kind.

The apparatus of the present invention can also be programmed in orderto be self-activating and/or activated automatically.

The apparatus of the present invention can also be programmed in orderto generate and/or transmit any of the e-mails, electronic messagetransmissions, electronic notification transmissions, and/or any of thecommunications, described herein between any of the parties utilizingthe present invention.

The present invention can be utilized in conjunction with intelligentagents, software agents and/or mobile agents, in order to provide forthese respective agents to act for, or on behalf of, a respective party.

The present invention can also be utilized in order to generateelectronic catalogs and/or electronic coupons for advertising and/or forpublicizing the availability of individuals, independent contractors,and/or freelancers, for work, and/or for advertising and/or publicizingjobs, employment positions, projects and/or assignments, which employersand/or hiring entities are seeking to fill.

The present invention can also be utilized in order to monitor, recordand/or keep track of, all offers and/or rejections involving any and alljobs, employment positions, projects and/or assignments, which occur inconjunction with and/or via use of the present invention. Theinformation compiled can be provided to individuals, employers, and/orrecruiters for use in any appropriate and/or suitable manner.

The present invention, can also store individual and/or employer dataand/or information with various and/or varying levels of specificityand/or confidentiality.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can be utilized as anelectronic and/or network-based recruiting apparatus and/orclearinghouse. The present invention can be utilized in order to reducerecruiting costs and so-called headhunter fees to employers as well asjob search efforts and/or expenses to individuals. The present inventionprovides an apparatus and a method for eliminating intermediaries and/orunnecessary efforts and/or expense involved in job search and/orrecruitment processes for any of the individuals, employers and/orhiring entities described herein.

The present invention can also be utilized in conjunction with thebartering and/or trading of services between parties, such asindividuals, employers, and/or hiring entities.

The present invention also provides an apparatus and a method forproviding enhanced confidentiality during the job-search, recruitment,and/or related interactions, negotiations and/or other dealings betweenthe parties involved in same. The present invention can monitor and/orrecord any interaction between any of the parties which utilize thepresent invention.

The present invention can also be utilized in conjunction with jobsearches and/or recruiting efforts for any kind of job, profession,employment position, project, and/or assignment, and/or for anypermanent, temporary, independent contractor, and/or freelance, job,employment position, project, and/or assignment.

The present invention can utilize electronic commerce technologies andsecurity methods, techniques and technologies.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job search services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method for providing job search services, recruitment services,and/or recruitment-related services, in a network environment.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job search services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, on and/or over theInternet, the World Wide Web, and/or any other communication network.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which provides links tovarious data and/or information which may be requested, required, and/ordesired, by the respective parties involved in job searching activitiesand/or in recruitment activities.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method for providing job searching services, recruitment services,and/or recruitment-related services, which utilizes databases which canbe linked to external information sources.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which facilitates theposting of data and/or information by respective individuals and/oremployers and/or hiring entities.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices and/or recruitment-related services, which allows an individualto perform job searches.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method for providing job searching services, recruitment servicesand/or recruitment-related services, which allows an employer and/orhiring entity to perform recruitment searches.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which notifies anindividual of job and/or employment opportunities which may be ofinterest to the individual when same become available.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which notifies anemployer and/or hiring entity of individuals, prospective employees,independent contractors, permanent workers, temporary workers, and/orfreelancers, who or which may be of interest to the employer and/orhiring entity when these individuals and/or entities become available.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method for providing job searching services, recruitment services,and/or recruitment-related services, which utilizes data and/orinformation which is specific, generic, and/or general, to anindividual, to an employer, and/or to hiring entity.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which facilitatesproviding notification to an employer and/or hiring entity when arecruitment-related opportunity arises.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which facilitatesproviding notification to an individual when an employment-relatedopportunity arises.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method for providing job searching services, recruitment services,and/or recruitment-related services, which provides for the securingand/or the reserving of services of an individual, an independentcontractor, and/or a freelancer.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job-searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which providesnotification of the availability of an individual, a prospectiveemployee, a job applicant, an independent contractor, a temporaryworker, and/or a freelancer, for a job, position, project, orassignment.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job-searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which providesnotification of the availability of a job, an employment position, aproject, and/or an assignment, with an employer and/or hiring entity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method of the providing job-searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which utilizes electronicmessages and/or e-mail messages which contain links to informationand/or information sources which may be utilized in providing saidinformation.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which provides forbidding and/or auctioning activities regarding said services.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which provides schedulingservices and/or schedule management services for an individual, anindependent contractor, a freelancer, an employer and/or hiring entity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method for providing job searching services, recruitment services,and/or recruitment-related services, which provides informationregarding developments related to the job-search and/or recruitmentfields.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which providesnotification to an individual, an independent contractor, a freelancer,and an employer and/or hiring entity, when data and/or information hasbeen requested about them.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which can be utilized byan individual, an independent contractor, a freelancer, an employerand/or hiring entity, and/or a party acting on behalf of same.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method for providing job searching services, recruitment services,and/or recruitment-related services, which prevents access to certaindata and/or information by certain parties.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices and/or recruitment-related services, which can be programmed tobe self-activating and/or be activated automatically.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices and/or recruitment-related services which generates electronicmessages, e-mail messages, telephone calls, pager calls, pager messages,and/or other communication messages, automatically.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method for providing job searching services, recruitment services,and/or recruitment-related services, which utilizes intelligent agents,software agents, and/or mobile agents, for providing various servicesfor, and/or for taking action on behalf of, a respective party.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which provides linksand/or hyperlinks to information, products and/or services relatedthereto.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which provides automaticnotification of, and/or announcements of, job openings, positionopenings, projects, and/or assignments, the availability of jobapplicants and/or the availability of goods and/or service providers, torespective parties.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method for providing job searching services, recruitment services,and/or recruitment-related services, which monitors, records, and/orprovides notification of, any communications which take place and/orwhich may transpire between respective parties.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which provides for thegeneration of and/or the distribution of electronic catalogs and/orelectronic coupons related to job search activities and/or recruitmentactivities.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which providesnotification of job-search-related and/or recruitment-related eventsand/or occurrences.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method for providing job searching services, recruitment services,and/or recruitment-related services, which monitors, records and/orkeeps track of, job search and/or recruitment activities of, and for,any of the respective parties.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which provides for thestorage and/or the utilization of data and/or information with variousand/or varying levels of confidentiality and/or specificity.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which is utilized inconjunction with the buying, selling, bartering and/or trading, of goodsand/or services.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method for providing job searching services, recruitment services,and/or recruitment-related services, which provides enhancedconfidentiality during the respective job search, recruitment, and/orrelated activities and/or interactions.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which monitors and/orrecords communications, interactions, and/or dealings, between parties.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which providesstatistical information pertaining to job searches, recruitmentactivities, and/or related activities.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method for providing job searching services, recruitment services,and/or recruitment-related services, which can be utilized inconjunction with independent job search efforts and/or independentrecruitment efforts.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, which can administer afinancial account for, and/or on behalf of a party, and which can effecta payment from one party to another, and/or receive a payment for,and/or on behalf of, a party.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and a method for providing job searching services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services, for schools, colleges,universities, and/or any organizations of any kind.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art upon a review of the Description of thePreferred Embodiment taken in conjunction with the Drawings whichfollow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates the apparatus of the present invention, in blockdiagram form;

FIG. 2 illustrates the central processing computer of the apparatus ofFIG. 1, in block diagram form;

FIG. 3 illustrates the individual computer of the apparatus of FIG. 1,in block diagram form;

FIG. 4 illustrates the employer computer of the apparatus of FIG. 1, inblock diagram form;

FIGS. 5A to 5E illustrate a preferred embodiment operation of theapparatus of FIG. 1, in flow diagram form;

FIGS. 6A to 6E illustrate another preferred embodiment operation of theapparatus of FIG. 1, in flow diagram form;

FIG. 7 illustrates another preferred embodiment operation of theapparatus of FIG. 1, in flow diagram form; and

FIG. 8 illustrates another preferred embodiment operation of theapparatus of FIG. 1, in flow diagram form.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method forproviding job searching services, recruitment services, and/orrecruitment-related services, and, in particular, to an apparatus and amethod for providing job searching services, recruitment services,and/or recruitment-related services, for effectuating services andactivities involving and/or related to job search efforts and/orrecruitment efforts, by, and/or for, individuals, independentcontractors, freelancers, employers and/or hiring entities.

The apparatus and method of the present invention provides serviceswhich facilitate individual, independent contractor, and/or freelancer,job search efforts, employer and/or hiring entity recruitment, searchand/or placement efforts, and/or related efforts. The present inventionalso provides a centralized apparatus, and/or a clearinghouse, forproviding and/or for facilitating the herein-described efforts,services, and/or activities.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can be utilized byindividuals and entities desirous of identifying and/or securing anemployment relationship, either permanent and/or temporary, anindependent contractor relationship, and/or a freelancer relationship,with an employer and/or hiring entity. The apparatus and method of thepresent invention can also be utilized by employers and/or hiringentities desirous of searching for, and/or for securing the services of,an individual, an independent contractor, and/or a freelancer, eitherpermanently and/or temporarily.

The present invention can also be utilized by an employment agency, anagent, a recruiter, a so-called “headhunter”, a career consultant, apersonal manager, and/or an intermediary, to assist an individual, anindependent contractor, and/or a freelancer, in searching for a job, aposition, a project, and/or assignment. The present invention can alsobe utilized to assist an employer and/or hiring entity to search for anindividual, an independent contractor, and/or a freelancer. The presentinvention can also be utilized in order to provide agency services forany of the herein described parties, such as, but not limited to,individuals, independent contractors, freelancers, employers, hiringentities, recruiters, and/or headhunters.

The terms “individual, “employee”, “prospective employee”, “applicant”,“contractor”, “independent contractor”, “temp”, “temporary employee”,“freelancer” etc., as used herein, refer to any individual, person,company, business entity, independent contracting business or entity,employment agent and/or agency, and/or any other entity, seeking toidentify, find, and/or secure, a job, an employment position, a project,and/or an assignment, for himself, herself, itself, and/or for another.

The terms “employer”, “hiring entity”, “company”, “business”, etc., asused herein, refer to any employer, hiring entity, individual, person,company, business entity, and/or other entity, seeking to identify,find, or secure the services of, an individual, independent contractor,and/or freelancer, for itself and/or for another.

The terms “recruiter”, “headhunter”, “employment agency”, “placementagency”, “employment consultant”, “placement consultant”, etc., refer toany individual, person, and/or entity, who or which acts as anintermediary for, and/or on behalf of, any party or parties describedherein, in order to initiate and/or to effectuate a job search and/or arecruitment activity and/or any searches or activities which result,and/or which proceed, therefrom.

Applicant hereby incorporates by reference herein the subject matter andteachings of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/146,776which teaches an apparatus and method for providing job searchingservices, recruitment services and/or recruitment-related services, thesubject matter and teachings of which are hereby incorporated byreference herein in their entirety.

Applicant hereby incorporates by reference herein the subject matter andteachings of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/315,124, filed Nov. 29,2008, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING JOB SEARCHINGSERVICES, RECRUITMENT SERVICES AND/OR RECRUITMENT-RELATED SERVICES”, thesubject matter and teachings of which are hereby incorporated byreference herein in their entirety.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can be utilized in anetwork environment in order to effectuate any of the services describedherein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention which is designated generally by the reference numeral100. In FIG. 1, the apparatus 100 includes a central processing computeror server computer 10. The central processing computer 10 providescontrol over the apparatus 100 and provides services for the variouscomputers associated with the various individuals employees,contractors, independent contractors, freelancers, employers, hiringentities, recruiters, etc., who or which utilize the apparatus 100 ofthe present invention.

The central processing computer 10, in the preferred embodiment, can beany suitable computer, network computer, or computer system, forproviding service for the various computers associated with theindividuals, employees, independent contractors, freelancers, employers,hiring entities, recruiters, etc., who or which utilize the presentinvention.

In the preferred embodiment, any number of central processing computers10 may be utilized in order to provide the servicing functions describedherein. The central processing computer(s) 10 may be linked to othercentral processing computers or may be stand alone devices. A givencentral processing computer 10 may service a particular geographic areaor certain individuals employees, independent contractors, freelancers,employers, hiring entities, recruiters, etc., and/or groups thereof. Acentral processing computer 10 may also be dedicated to service any oneor group of the above described individuals and/or entities.

The apparatus 100, in the preferred embodiment, also includes one ormore individual computers 20. Each individual computer 20 may be apersonal computer or other communication device suitable for allowingthe individual to interact with the central processing computer(s) 10.Each individual computer 20 can be utilized to transmit information tothe central processing computer 10 and to receive information from thecentral processing computer 10 via the communication network.

The individual computer 20 can be a personal computer, a hand-heldcomputer, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a personalcommunication device, a personal digital assistant, a telephone, adigital telephone, a display telephone, a video telephone, a videophone,a 3G telephone, a television, an interactive television, a beeper, apager, and/or a watch. In the present invention, any number ofindividual computers 20 may be utilized. In the present invention, eachindividual or entity utilizing the present invention may have one ormore individual computers 20 associated therewith.

The apparatus 100, in the preferred embodiment, also includes one ormore employer computers 30. Each employer computer 30 may be a personalcomputer or other communication device suitable for allowing theemployer to interact with the central processing computer(s) 10. Eachemployer computer 30 can be utilized to transmit information to thecentral processing computer 10 and to receive information from thecentral processing computer 10 via the communication network.

The employer computer 30 can be a personal computer, a hand-heldcomputer, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a personalcommunication device, a personal digital assistant, a telephone, adigital telephone, a display telephone, a video telephone, a videophone,a 3G telephone, a television, an interactive television, a beeper, apager, and/or a watch. In the preferred embodiment, any number ofemployer computers 30 may be utilized. In the present invention, eachemployer and/or hiring entity utilizing the present invention may haveone or more employer computers 30 associated therewith.

Each of the individual computer(s) 20 and each of the employercomputer(s) 30 described herein can transmit information to each centralprocessing computer 10 as well as receive information from each centralprocessing computer 10. In addition, each individual computer 20 canalso transmit information to any employer computer 30 as well as receiveinformation from any employer computer 30. In a similar manner, eachemployer computer 30 can transmit information to any individual computer20 as well as receive information from any individual computer 20.

The central processing computer(s) 10, the individual computer(s) 20,and/or the employer computer(s) 30 can communicate with one another,and/or be linked to one another, over a communication network and/or awireless communication network. In the preferred embodiment, the presentinvention is utilized on, and/or over, the Internet and/or the WorldWide Web. The present invention, in the preferred embodiment, can alsoutilize wireless Internet and/or World Wide Web services, equipmentand/or devices. The central processing computer(s) 10, in the preferredembodiment, has a web site or web sites associated therewith.

Although the Internet and/or the World Wide Web is the preferredcommunication system and/or medium utilized, the present invention, inall of the embodiments described herein, can also be utilized with anyappropriate communication systems including, but not limited to, networkcommunication systems, telephone communication systems, cellularcommunication systems, digital communication systems, personalcommunication systems, personal communication services (PCS) systems,satellite communication systems, broad band communication systems, lowearth orbiting (LEO) satellite systems, and/or public switched telephonenetworks or systems.

In the preferred embodiment, each of the central processing computer(s)10, the individual computer(s) 20, and employer computer(s) 30, cantransmit data and/or information using TCP/IP, as well as any otherInternet and/or World Wide Web, protocols.

The individual computer 20, in the preferred embodiment, can be linkeddirectly or indirectly with a central processing computer 10. Theemployer computer 30, in the preferred embodiment, can also be linkeddirectly or indirectly with a central processing computer 20. In any ofthe preferred embodiments described herein, any individual computer(s)20 and any employer computer(s) 30 can be linked directly or indirectlywith one another so as to facilitate a direct or indirect bi-directionalcommunication between an individual computer(s) 20 and an employercomputer(s) 30.

FIG. 2 illustrates the central processing computer 10, in block diagramform. The central processing computer 10, in the preferred embodiment,is a network computer or computer system which is utilized as a centralprocessing computer such as an Internet server computer and/or a website server computer. In the preferred embodiment, the centralprocessing computer 10 includes a central processing unit or CPU 10A,which in the preferred embodiment, is a microprocessor. The CPU 10A mayalso be a microcomputer, a minicomputer, a macro-computer, and/or amainframe computer, depending upon the application.

The central processing computer 10 also includes a random access memorydevice(s) 10B (RAM) and a read only memory device(s) 10C (ROM), each ofwhich is connected to the CPU 10A, a user input device 10D, for enteringdata and/or commands into the central processing computer 10, whichincludes any one or more of a keyboard, a scanner, a user pointingdevice, such as, for example, a mouse, a touch pad, and/or an audioinput device and/or a video input device, etc., if desired, which inputdevice(s) are also connected to the CPU 10A. The central processingcomputer 10 also includes a display device 10E for displaying dataand/or information to a user or operator.

The central processing computer 10 also includes a transmitter(s) 10F,for transmitting signals and/or data and/or information to any one ormore of the individual computer(s) 20 and employer computer(s) 30 whichmay be utilized in conjunction with the present invention. The centralprocessing computer 10 also includes a receiver 10G, for receivingsignals and/or data and/or information from any one or more of theindividual computer(s) 20 and/or employer computer(s) 30.

The central processing computer 10 also includes a database(s) 10H whichcontains data and/or information pertaining to the individuals,employees, independent contractors, freelancers, and/or other persons orentities, who or which utilize the present invention in order to find orsecure a job, project, or assignment. The database 10H also containsdata and/or information pertaining to the employers and/or hiringentities who or which utilize the present invention to recruitindividuals, independent contractors, or freelancers, in order tosatisfy their needs and/or requirements. The database 10H may alsocontain data and/or information pertaining to recruiters, headhunters,management consultants, managers, and/or other intermediaries, and/orthird parties, who or which utilize the present invention in order toact on behalf of any of the individuals, independent contractors,freelancers, employers and/or hiring entities, who attempt to match theneeds of any of the parties described herein.

Individual data and/or information, which can be stored in the database10H, can include, but not be limited to, the individual's name, sex,age, address, educational information, schooling, work experience, workhistory, skills, work-related skills, past employers, references, salaryhistory, salary requirements, benefit requirements, school transcripts,links to registrar's offices and/or databases at respective school(s)and/or to a transcript database and/or electronic storage facility,medium, and/or device, which stores transcripts and/or other scholasticand/or educational information about an individual(s), work samples,reference letters, recommendation letters, pictures, video clips, and/orother relevant and/or pertinent information. In this manner, the presentinvention facilitates more efficient access to data and/or informationpertaining to an individual(s).

In order to preserve confidentiality and/or so as to maintain ananonymous identity, each of the above-described types of information canbe described in a generic manner, i.e., a school can be listed as alarge Ivy League institution as opposed to being named and positivelyidentified. For example, an individual can be described as being amid-level engineer having experience in computer programming, etc.

Each and every field of data and/or information can be represented by acorresponding generic term or terms so as to keep the true informationmasked for a desired time period or during a certain period ofprocessing. The individual data and/or information can also includecertain jobs and/or events and/or occurrences for which the individualmay desire to be notified. Any of the data and/or information may havehyperlinks associated therewith for directing a party to a separateand/or a different data and/or information source. The informationsource may be external from the central processing computer 10.

The database 10H can also contain data and/or information restrictingaccess to any of the data and/or information stored in the database 10H.For example, an individual, independent contractor, freelancer,employer, and/or hiring entity, may, at any time, may restrict access byany party, to any of their respective data and/or information. Forexample, an individual may prevent a current employer from accessing hisor her data and/or information, thereby maintaining the confidentialityof a job search. Similarly, any party may restrict the availability ofany of its data and/or information from any other party or parties.

In the cases of temporary employees, self-employed individuals,professionals, independent contractors, freelancers, etc., the database10H can contain information regarding the schedules and/or workcalendars for any of these individuals, employees, and/or entities. Inthis regard, each individual, employee, and/or entity in this categorymay store and have maintained by the apparatus 100, a work scheduleand/or working calendar which can provide information regarding daysand/or time periods of employment and/or engagement as well as daysand/or time periods of availability.

The database 10H can also contain information pertaining to employerswhom an individual will readily work for if the employer should needand/or request the individual. The individual data and/or informationcan also include employers and/or hiring entities whom the individual,independent contractor, or freelancer, has agreed in advance to workfor, as well as employers and/or hiring entities whom the individual hasdecided in advance not to work for. The database 10H can also includeinformation regarding which employers and/or hiring entities may accessan individual's data and/or information as well as those employersand/or hiring entities who may not access an individual's data and/orinformation.

The database 10H also includes data and/or information about employerswho or which utilize the present invention which information includes,but is not limited to, employer name, company name, job offerings, jobopenings, job(s) or position(s) needed to be filled, job(s) orposition(s) desired to be filled, employer size, employer location,regional location, jobs or positions employed, benefits offered,employer history, salary information, compensation information, customerinformation, supplier information, information from past employees,information from current employees, past and/or current employmentagencies or recruiter representing the employer, types of positions,including but not limited to permanent and/or temporary positions,references, pictures of facilities, video clips, fringe benefits, workhours, work requirements, recommendation letters, salary and/orcompensation information.

The data and/or information contained in the database 10H can alsoinclude information concerning events, occurrences, availability of anapplicant or applicants and/or any other information of which theemployer may which to be notified.

As in the case with individuals, in order to preserve confidentialityand/or so as to maintain an anonymous identity, each of theabove-described types of information can be described in a genericmanner, i.e., an employer can be listed as a large computer manufactureras opposed to being named and positively identified.

Each and every field of data and/or information, described herein asbeing stored in the database 10H and/or otherwise utilized by thepresent invention, can be represented by a corresponding generic term orterms so as to keep the true information masked for a desired timeperiod or during a certain period of processing. The employer dataand/or information can also include events and/or occurrences for whichthe employer may desire to be notified. Any of the data and/orinformation stored in the database 10H may have hyperlinks associatedtherewith for directing a party to a separate and/or to a different dataand/or information source, which may also be external form the centralprocessing computer 10.

The employer data and/or information can also include work schedulesand/or work calendars which provide information regarding when theemployer will be in need of the assistance of and/or the services ofindividuals, independent contractors, temporary employees, and/orfreelancers. The database 10H can contain information regarding theschedules and/or work calendars providing notification of the humanresource and/or employee requirements for the employer and/or hiringentity thereby providing information regarding days and/or time periodswhen it will require the assistance of individuals, independentcontractors and/or freelancers.

The database 10H may also contain information regarding whichindividuals, independent contractors, and/or freelancers, may beapproved, in advance, for hiring and/or for working for the employerand/or hiring entity, as well as data and/or information regarding whichindividuals, independent contractors, and/or freelancers, may beprohibited, in advance, from being hired by, and/or from working for,the employer and/or hiring entity. The database 10H may also containinformation regarding which individuals, independent contractors, and/orfreelancers, may obtain information about the employer and/or hiringentity as well as information regarding those individuals who may beprohibited from obtaining such information. The database 10H may alsocontain information regarding which individuals, independentcontractors, and/or freelancers, may apply for a job, position, project,or assignment, with an employer and/or hiring entity as well asinformation regarding those individuals who may be prohibited from soapplying.

The database 10H may also contain data and/or information pertaining toan employment agency, recruiters, headhunters, agents, managers, and/orother third party intermediaries (hereinafter “recruiter”), who or whichattempt to brings individuals and employers together so as to facilitatethe fulfillment of the needs of the respective parties. The informationcan include, but not be limited to, the recruiter's name, location,types of positions filled by same, information from past clients,references, past dealings and/or deals with an employer and/or hiringentity, salary histories of past deals, etc.

As in the case with individuals and employers, in order to preserveconfidentiality and/or so as to maintain an anonymous identity, each ofthe above-described types of information can be described in a genericmanner, i.e., a recruiter and/or any information pertaining thereto canbe described generically, i.e. a legal recruiter specializing in placingbankruptcy attorneys, etc., as opposed to being named and positivelyidentified.

Each and every field of data and/or information can be represented by acorresponding generic term or terms so as to keep the true informationmasked for a desired time period or during a certain period ofprocessing. The recruiter data and/or information can also includeevents and/or occurrences for which the recruiter may desire to benotified. Any of the data and/or information stored in the database 10Hmay have hyperlinks associated therewith for directing a party to aseparate and/or a different data and/or information source, which mayalso be external from the central processing computer 10.

The database 10H may also contain any other information which may berelevant, pertinent, useful, and/or desired, for facilitating theoperation of the apparatus and method of the present invention asdescribed herein and/or as related thereto.

The database 10H, in the preferred embodiment, is a database which mayinclude individual databases or collections of databases, with eachdatabase being designated to store any and all of the data and/orinformation described herein.

The database 10H may also contain data and/or information concerningpast placements and/or transactions with such data and/or informationbeing stored after each placement and/or transaction which occurs viathe apparatus and method of the present invention. Any and all dataand/or information can be stored regarding transactions which occur viathe present invention as well as those transactions which occurindependently of the present invention. The data and/or information canthen be compiled and processed using statistical calculations in orderto update the stored historical placement and/or transaction data and/orinformation with such data and/or information being made available tousers of the apparatus 100. Applicant hereby incorporates by referenceherein the teachings of Basic Business Statistics Concepts andApplications, Mark L. Berenson and David M. Levine, 6^(th) Edition,Prentice Hall 1996.

The database 10H may also contain data and/or information concerningattrition rates at individual employers and/or hiring entities, as wellas in different fields and/or market sectors, salary information, salarysurveys for particular jobs, professions, etc., including salary,benefits, and/or other compensation, data and/or information for variousexperience levels, skill levels, skills and abilities, educationalcredentials, and/or other data and/or information which may be utilizedby any of the individuals and/or employers described herein, by job orprofession type, by market sector, by type of employer, and/or bylocation and/or geographic region.

The database 10H may also contain data and/or information regarding thelatest developments and/or current developments in the employment and/orrecruiting field, including, but not limited to, growth areas, demandinformation for certain jobs and/or professions, etc.

The data and/or information which is stored in the database 10H, or inthe collection of databases, can be linked via relational databasetechniques, to the respective employer computers 30 and/or individualcomputers 20 and/or via any appropriate database management techniques.The data and/or information, in the preferred embodiment, can be updatedvia inputs from the respective individual computers 20, and/or employercomputers 30, and/or from any other information source, at any time.Information updates can also be provided from other information sourcesvia the communication network.

The database 10H, or collection of databases, may be updated by each ofthe respective individuals, employers, or by an administrator and/oroperator of the central processing computer 10, and/or by any otherthird party, in real-time, and/or via dynamically linked databasemanagement techniques. The data and/or information stored in thedatabase 10H can also be updated by external sources. The database 10Hwill contain any and all information deemed necessary and/or desirablefor providing all of the processing and/or services and/or functionsdescribed herein. Applicant hereby incorporates by reference herein thesubject matter of Fundamentals of Database Systems, by Ramez Elmasri andShamkant B. Navathe, 2^(nd) Ed., Addison-Wesley Publishing Company,1994.

The database 10H can also contain any information needed forcorresponding with any of the individuals, independent contractors,freelancers, employers and/or hiring entities, and/or recruiters,described herein, such as their respective addresses, telephone numbers,e-mail addresses, pager number, and/or any other information forfacilitating a communication with any of these respective parties.

The database 10H can also include employer-related data and/orinformation, job and/or position-related information, individual,independent contractor and/or freelancer, data and/or information,recruiter, headhunter, and/or third party intermediary-relatedinformation, and/or any other data and/or information needed and/ordesired for performing any of the herein-described methods and featuresof the present invention.

With reference once again to FIG. 2, the central processing computer 10also includes an output device 101 such as a printer, a modem, afax/modem, or other output device, for providing data and/or informationto the operator or user of the central processing computer 10 or to athird party or third party entity.

In the preferred embodiment, each of the individual computer(s) 20 andthe employer computer(s) 30, include the same, similar, or analogous,components and/or peripheral devices as described herein for the centralprocessing computer 10. In this manner, any individual computer(s) 20 oremployer computer(s) 30, may be the same as, or be similar to, thecentral processing computer 10. In this regard, and depending upon theapplication and/or individual and/or employer requirements, each of theindividual computer(s) 20 and/or each of the employer computer(s) 30 canhave the same or similar components as the central processing computer10.

FIG. 3 illustrates the individual computer 20, in block diagram form.The individual computer 20, in the preferred embodiment, is a networkcomputer or computer system which is utilized to access and/or tocommunicate with the central processing computer 10. In the preferredembodiment, the individual computer 20 includes a central processingunit or CPU 20A, which in the preferred embodiment, is a microprocessor.The CPU 20A may also be a microcomputer, a minicomputer, amacro-computer, and/or a mainframe computer, depending upon theapplication.

The individual computer 20 also includes a random access memorydevice(s) 20B (RAM) and a read only memory device(s) 20C (ROM), each ofwhich is connected to the CPU 20A, a user input device 20D, for enteringdata and/or commands into the individual computer 20, which includes anyone or more of a keyboard, a scanner, a user pointing device, such as,for example, a mouse, a touch pad, and/or an audio input device and/or avideo input device, etc., if desired, which input device(s) are alsoconnected to the CPU 20A. The individual computer 20 also includes adisplay device 20E for displaying data and/or information to a user oroperator.

The individual computer 20 also includes a transmitter(s) 20F, fortransmitting signals and/or data and/or information to any one or moreof the central processing computer(s) 10 and to the employer computer(s)30. The individual computer 20 also includes a receiver 20G, forreceiving signals and/or data and/or information from any one or more ofthe central processing computer(s) 10 and/or the employer computer(s)30.

The individual computer 20 also includes a database(s) 20H which cancontain any and/or all of the data and/or information described hereinwith regards to the database 10H of the central processing computer 10.The database 20H can also contain data and/or information personal to anindividual or group of individuals, as well as data and/or informationconcerning the work schedule(s) and/or work calendar(s) for theindividual and/or group of individuals for which the individualcomputer(s) 20 is/are associated. This data and/or information can alsoinclude information concerning when the individual is scheduled to workand/or when the individual is available to take work assignments.

With reference once again to FIG. 3, the individual computer 20 alsoincludes an output device 20I such as a printer, a modem, a fax/modem,or other output device, for providing data and/or information to theoperator or user of the individual computer 20 or to a third party orthird party entity.

FIG. 4 illustrates the employer computer 30, in block diagram form. Theemployer computer 30, in the preferred embodiment, is a computer orcomputer system which is utilized to access and/or to communicate withthe central processing computer 10. In the preferred embodiment, theemployer computer 30 includes a central processing unit or CPU 30A,which in the preferred embodiment, is a microprocessor. The CPU 30A mayalso be a microcomputer, a minicomputer, a macro-computer, and/or amainframe computer, depending upon the application.

The employer computer 30 also includes a random access memory device(s)30B (RAM) and a read only memory device(s) 30C (ROM), each of which isconnected to the CPU 30A, a user input device 30D, for entering dataand/or commands into the employer computer 30, which includes any one ormore of a keyboard, a scanner, a user pointing device, such as, forexample, a mouse, a touch pad, and/or an audio input device and/or avideo input device, etc., if desired, which input device(s) are alsoconnected to the CPU 30A. The employer computer 30 also includes adisplay device 30E for displaying data and/or information to a user oroperator.

The employer computer 30 also includes a transmitter(s) 30F, fortransmitting signals and/or data and/or information to any one or moreof the central processing computer(s) 10 and individual computer(s) 20.The employer computer 30 also includes a receiver 30G, for receivingsignals and/or data and/or information from any one or more of thecentral processing computer(s) 10 and/or the individual computer(s) 20.

The employer computer 30 also includes a database(s) 30H which cancontain any and/or all of the data and/or information described hereinwith regards to the database 10H of the central processing computer 10.The database 30H can also contain data and/or information concerning aparticular employer and/or hiring entity and/or groups of employersand/or hiring entities, as well as data and/or information concerningthe work schedule(s) and/or work calendar(s), including projectschedules and/or calendars, for the employer and/or hiring entity, orgroups thereof, for which the employer computer 30 is associated. Thisdata and/or information can also include information concerning when theemployer may be in need of individuals, independent contractors, and/orfreelancers, and/or when the employer and/or hiring entity may not be inneed of same.

With reference once again to FIG. 4, the employer computer 30 alsoincludes an output device 301 such as a printer, a modem, a fax/modem,or other output device, for providing data and/or information to theoperator or user of the individual computer 20 or to a third party orthird party entity.

The databases 20H and 30H of the individual computer(s) 20 and theemployer computer(s) 30, respectively, can contain any and/or all of thedata and/or information which is stored and/or contained in the database10H.

The database 10H, or collection of databases which form the database10H, as well as any database 20H and/or 30H, and/or any otherdatabase(s) described herein, can be implemented by utilizing databasesoftware and/or spreadsheet software, such as, for example databasesoftware by Oracle®, Microsoft® Access® and/or Microsoft® Excel®, or anyother suitable database or spreadsheet software programs and/or systems.

The data and/or information can be provided by the various employers,hiring entities, individuals, independent contractors, freelancers,applicants, recruiters, headhunters, third party intermediaries, and/orthe operator and/or the administrator of the apparatus 100, and can beuploaded to, downloaded from, and/or be stored and/or be resident on anyof the central processing computer(s) 10, the individual computer(s) 20,and/or the employer computer(s) 30.

In the preferred embodiment, wherein the apparatus 100 is utilized overthe Internet and/or the World Wide Web, hyperlinks and/or other dataand/or information links and/or linking methods and/or devices, can beutilized in order to provide an additional mechanism by which any of theindividual computers 20 and/or any of the employer computers 30, canaccess and/or communicate with any other individual computer 20,employer computer 30 as well as the central processing computer. Anyand/or all of the central processing computer 10, the individualscomputers 20, and/or the employer computers 30, describe herein, canalso be linked to, and/or can access and/or communicate with, anyexternal computer, computer system, and/or information source (notshown), including, but not limited to, school registrar officecomputers, recruiter computers, employment agency computer, in order toaccess and/o obtain information therefrom.

The apparatus 100 and the method of the present invention can beutilized to perform various recruitment and/or recruitment-relatedservices and/or functions. The present invention can be utilized by anindividual, an independent contractor, and/or a freelancer, in order tosearch for, and/or to apply for, a job, a position, a project, and/or anassignment. The present invention can also be utilized by an employerand/or hiring entity in order to search for, and or to recruit, anindividual, an independent contractor, and/or a freelancer, in order tofill a job, a position, a project, and/or an assignment.

The present invention can also be utilized by a recruiter, a headhunter,and/or a third party intermediary, in order to assist a respectiveindividual, independent contractor, and/or freelancer, search for a job,a position, a project, and/or an assignment, as well as to assist anemployer and/or a hiring entity to search for, and/or to recruit, anindividual, an independent contractor, and/or a freelancer, in order tofill a job, a position, a project, and/or an assignment.

The data and/or information which is stored in the database 10H, as wellas stored in any of the databases 20H and/or 30H, can be linked via anysuitable data linking techniques such as, for example, dynamicallylinked lists (DLLs), linked lists, and object links embedded (OLE's).

In any and all of the embodiments described herein, each of theindividual computers 20, the central processing computer(s) 10 and theemployer computers 30 can communicate with one another via electronicsubmissions, electronic form submissions and/or transmissions, e-mailtransmissions, facsimile transmissions, telephone messages, telephonecalls, physical mail delivery, and/or via any other suitablecommunication technique, medium, or method.

In any and all of the embodiments described herein, employers and otherhiring entities can post and/or list information regarding jobs,employment positions, temporary positions, assignments, freelanceassignments, contracting assignments (hereinafter “jobs”), as well asany other assignments, projects, and/or efforts which require and/orwhich may require the services of individuals, independent contractors,freelancers, and/or temporary employees, etc.

Data and/or information regarding the above-described jobs, employmentpositions, assignments, etc., can be stored in the database 10H of thecentral processing computer 10. The data and/or information can also bestored in the database 20H of any individual computer 20 and/or in thedatabase 30H of any employer computer 30.

Individuals, job applicants, prospective employees, employees,independent contractors, temporary workers, and/or freelancers, etc.,can also post and/or list data and/or information regarding themselveswith the database 10H of the central processing computer 10. As in thecase with employers and/or hiring entities, data and/or informationregarding these Individuals, job applicants, prospective employees,employees, independent contractors, temporary workers, and/orfreelancers, etc., can also be stored in the database 20H of anyindividual computer 20 and/or in the database 30H of any employercomputer 30.

Recruiters and/or other third party intermediaries described herein canalso store data and/or information regarding any of the individuals,employers and/or hiring entities, whom they represent, which data and/orinformation can also be stored in the database 10H of the centralprocessing computer 10 as well as the database 20 h of the individualcomputer 20 and/or the database 30H of the employer computer 30. Arecruiter or third party intermediary may utilize an individual computer20 to access and/or utilize the present invention.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can be utilized inmany preferred embodiments to provide job search services, recruitmentservices, and/or recruitment-related services. FIGS. 5A to 5E illustratea preferred embodiment operation of the apparatus of FIG. 1, in flowdiagram form. FIGS. 5A to 5E illustrate a method for using the apparatus100, for assisting individuals, job applicants, prospective employees,employees, independent contractors, temporary workers, and/orfreelancers, etc. (hereinafter referred to collectively as “individual”or “individuals”), to perform job searches, for employment positions,contracting jobs, temporary assignments and/or freelance assignments(hereinafter referred to as a “job” or “jobs”).

The operation of the apparatus 100 commences at step 200. At step 201,the individual accesses the central processing computer 10 via theindividual computer 30. The individual may, at step 202, enter dataand/or information regarding his or her education, skills, workexperience, objectives and/or any other data and/or informationpertinent to a job search. Step 202 may be dispensed with if thisinformation has been entered by the individual previously. The dataand/or information can be entered specifically and/or generically. Ifentered specifically, the individual can also enter generic data and/orinformation to preserve confidentiality, if desired.

Data and/or information may also be entered into the central processingcomputer 10 by uploading and/or downloading, whichever the case may be,a resume and/or any other pertinent data and/or information. Data and/orinformation may also be obtained via a questionnaire which may beprovided and/or answered on-line. Any and/or all of such data and/orinformation may be stored in the database 10H.

The central processing computer 10 can also process the specific dataand/or information in order to convert and/or separately store same asgeneric data and/or information. Any and all data and/or informationstored at step 202, and/or previously, can be stored in the database 10Hof the central processing computer 10 and/or in the databases 20H and/or30H, respectively, of the individual computer 20 and/or the employercomputer 30, as appropriate. At step 203, the individual can choose tohave the search proceed with specific data and/or information and/orgeneric data and/or information.

If, at step 204, it is determined that a search with specific dataand/or information is selected, the central processing computer 10 willproceed to step 205 and proceed with the specific data and/orinformation. Thereafter, the operation will proceed to step 207. If,however, at step 204, it is determined that a search with specific dataand/or information is not selected, the central processing computer 10will proceed to step 206 and proceed with the generic and/or generaldata and/or information. Thereafter, the operation will proceed to step207.

At step 207, the individual will enter his or her job search, includingany search criteria, into the central processing computer 10 via theindividual computer 20. At step 208, the central processing computer 10will query the database of posted and/or listed jobs and generate areport or list of jobs which meet the individual's search criteria. Atstep 209, the central processing computer 10 will provide the individualwith the report or list of available jobs either electronically and/orotherwise. The results of the search can also be provided to theindividual by being displayed on the display device 20E and/or by beingprinted via the output device or printer 201.

Thereafter, the individual will decide whether he or she wishes to applyfor any of the jobs. At step 210, the individual can transmitinformation to the central processing computer 10 regarding which, ifany, of the reported jobs he or she wishes to apply for. At step 211,the central processing computer 10 will determine whether the individualwants to apply for any of the reported jobs. If, at step 211, it isdetermined that the individual does not want to apply for any of thereported jobs, the central processing computer 10 will, at step 212,record and/or store any and/or all data and/or information regardingand/or pertinent to the search and/or the corresponding results, up tothis point, including the actions of the individual. The operation ofthe apparatus 100 will thereafter cease at step 213.

If, at step 211, it is determined that the individual wants to apply fora reported job, the operation will proceed to step 214. At step 215, theindividual data and/or information, whether specific, generic, and/orgeneral, is transmitted to the employer and/or employer computer 30. Anydata and/or information described as being transmitted between theparties, and/or between the respective computers, can be transmittedelectronically, such as via e-mail, electronic message transmission,telephone call, telephone message, facsimile transmission, pagermessage, and/or physical mail delivery. The employer can review the dataand/or information, at step 215, and transmit a response to the centralprocessing computer 10 at step 216.

At step 217, the central processing computer 10 will process theemployer's response and determine if the employer is interested inpursuing discussions with the individual. If, at step 217, it isdetermined that the employer is not interested in pursuing theindividual, the central processing computer 10 will, at step 218, recordand/or store any and/or all data and/or information regarding and/orpertinent to the search and/or the corresponding results, includinginformation concerning the employer, the individual, the time and dateof the consideration, along with any notes made by the employer orindividual, up to this point.

The data and/or information stored at step 218 is stored in the database10H for later use or reference by any individual, employer, and/oroperator or administrator of the apparatus 100. Some or all of the dataand/or information stored in the database 10H may thereafter betransmitted to, and/or stored in, the database(s) 20H and/or 30H of therespective individual computer(s) 20 and/or employer computer(s) 30. Theoperation of the apparatus 100 will thereafter cease at step 219.

If, at step 217, it is determined that the employer is interested inpursuing discussions with the individual, then the central processingcomputer 10 will, at step 220, notify the individual by transmitting amessage to the individual, and/or to the individual computer 20associated with the individual, so notifying the individual. Theindividual can review the data and/or information, at step 220, andtransmit a response to the central processing computer 10 at step 221.If the employer's response had included a request for additional and/ormore specific data and/or information, such as, but not limited to, aresume, references, work samples, salary requirements, salary history,transcripts, and/or requests for authorization to obtain any of theabove, and/or any other information of interest to the employer, theindividual's response, at step 221, can include same and/or links tosame. The operation of the apparatus will thereafter proceed to step222.

At step 222, the central processing computer 10 will determine whetherthe individual is interested in pursuing the opportunity with theemployer. If at step 222, it is determined that the individual is notinterested in pursing the opportunity, the central processing computerwill, at step 223, record and/or store this information, along with anyand/or all data and/or information regarding and/or pertinent to thesearch and/or the corresponding results, including informationconcerning the employer, the individual, the time and date of theconsideration, along with any notes made by the employer or individual,up to this point. Thereafter, operation of the apparatus will cease atstep 224.

If, at step 222, it is determined that the individual is interested inpursuing the opportunity, the data and/or information in theindividual's response will, at step 225, be transmitted to the employerand/or the employer computer 30 associated with the employer. Theemployer can review the data and/or information, at step 225, andtransmit a response to the central processing computer 10 at step 226.The response can include information as to whether the employer isinterested in pursuing discussions with the individual.

At step 227, the central processing computer 10 will process theemployer's response in order to determine if the employer is stillinterested in pursuing the opportunity regarding the individual. If, atstep 227, it is determined that the employer is not interested inpursuing the opportunity regarding the individual, the centralprocessing computer 10 will, at step 228, record and/or store thisinformation, along with any and/or all data and/or information regardingand/or pertinent to the search and/or the corresponding results,including information concerning the employer, the individual, the timeand date of the consideration, along with any notes made by the employeror individual, up to this point. Thereafter, the operation of theapparatus will cease at step 229.

If, at step 227, it is determined that the employer is interested inpursing the opportunity with the individual, the central processingcomputer 10 will, at step 230, put the employer and the individual incontact with each other by transmitting contact information to either orboth of the employer and/or the individual. The contact information mayinclude the individual's name, address, telephone number, fax number,e-mail, and/or any other contact information for the individual, and/orthe employer's name, address, person to contact, contact individual atthe employer, telephone number, fax number, e-mail, and/or any othercontact information for the employer. The employer and the individualmay thereafter proceed with the interview, employment screening, and/orrecruitment, processes.

At step 231, the central processing computer 10 can monitor theinterview, employment screening, and/or recruitment, processes, whichtake place between the employer and the individual. At step 232, thecentral processing computer 10 will record and/or store any and/or alldata and/or information regarding and/or pertinent to the search and/orthe corresponding results, including information concerning theemployer, the individual, any information concerning whether a deal hasbeen reached between the parties, any information concerning offers,counteroffers, rejected offers and/or rejected counteroffers, the timeand date of the consideration, along with any notes made by the employeror individual, up to this point.

The data and/or information stored at step 232 is stored in the database10H for later use or reference by any individual, employer, and/oroperator or administrator of the apparatus 100. Some or all of the dataand/or information stored in the database 10H may thereafter betransmitted to, and/or be stored in, the database(s) 20H and/or 30H ofthe respective individual computer(s) 20 and/or employer computer(s) 30.The operation of the apparatus 100 will thereafter cease at step 233.

The operation of the apparatus 100 may be terminated by either theindividual and/or the employer at any time. In this manner, a party mayterminate discussions at any time. The individual and/or the employermay also, at any time, obtain information about, and/or perform researchon, the opposite party by linking to said information and/or researchvia the central processing computer 10 and/or via links and/orhyperlinks which can be inserted in the various e-mails and/orelectronic messages which are utilized and/or transmitted in conjunctionwith the present invention. The information and/or research can beobtained without interrupting the processing of the central processingcomputer 10. In this manner, a party may obtain information and/orresearch about the opposite party, at any time, and without interruptingthe processing of the central processing computer 10.

The present invention in another preferred embodiment, can be utilizedby an employer and/or hiring entity in order to search for and/orrecruit individuals for jobs, employment positions, temporaryassignments, projects, and/or freelance assignments, and/or for anyother need. FIGS. 6A to 6E illustrate another preferred embodimentoperation of the apparatus of FIG. 1, in flow diagram form. FIGS. 6A to6E illustrate a method for using the apparatus 100, for assistingemployers and/or hiring entities (hereinafter referred to as “employer”)in searching for and/or for recruiting job applicants, prospectiveemployees, employees, independent contractors, temporary workers, and/orfreelancers, etc. (hereinafter referred to collectively as“individual”), to fill jobs, employment positions, contracting jobs,temporary assignments, freelance assignments, and/or other needs.

The operation of the apparatus 100 commences at step 300. At step 301,the employer accesses the central processing computer 10 via theemployer computer 30. The employer may, at step 302, enter data and/orinformation regarding its requirements and/or needs, including, but notlimited to, those related to hiring needs, and/or its requirementsconcerning educational credentials, skills, work experience, objectives,and/or any other data and/or information pertinent to a fulfilling itsneeds. Step 302 may be dispensed with if this information has beenentered by the employer previously. The data and/or information can beentered specifically and/or generically. If entered specifically, theemployer can also enter generic data and/or information to preserveconfidentiality, if desired.

Data and/or information may also be entered into the central processingcomputer 10 by uploading and/or downloading, whichever the case may be,job descriptions and/or hiring needs and/or any other pertinent dataand/or information. Data and/or information may also be obtained via aquestionnaire which may be provided and/or answered on-line. Any and/orall of such data and/or information may be stored in the database 10H.

The central processing computer 10 can also process the specific dataand/or information in order to convert and/or separately store same asgeneric data and/or information. Any and all data and/or informationstored at step 302, and/or previously, can be stored in the database 10Hof the central processing computer 10 and/or in the databases 20H and/or30H, respectively, of the individual computer 20 and/or the employercomputer 30, as appropriate. At step 303, the employer can choose tohave the search proceed with specific data and/or information and/orgeneric data and/or information.

If, at step 304, it is determined that a search with specific dataand/or information is selected, the central processing computer 10 willproceed to step 305 and proceed with the specific data and/orinformation. Thereafter, the operation will proceed to step 307. If,however, at step 304, it is determined that a search with specific dataand/or information is not selected, the central processing computer 10will proceed to step 306 and proceed with the generic and/or generaldata and/or information. Thereafter, the operation will proceed to step307.

At step 307, the employer will enter its recruitment search, includingany search criteria, into the central processing computer 10 via theemployer computer 30. At step 308, the central processing computer 10will query the database of posted and/or listed individuals and generatea report or list of individuals who meet the employer's search criteria.At step 309, the central processing computer 10 will provide theemployer with the report or list of available individuals eitherelectronically and/or otherwise. The results of the search can also beprovided to the employer by being displayed on the display device 30Eand/or by being printed via the output device or printer 30I.

Thereafter, the employer will decide whether it wants to pursue any ofthe individuals identified in the search report. At step 310, theemployer can transmit information to the central processing computer 10regarding which, if any, of the reported individuals its wants topursue. At step 311, the central processing computer 10 will determinewhether the employer wants to pursue any of the individuals. If, at step311, it is determined that the employer does not want to pursue any ofthe individuals, the central processing computer 10 will, at step 312,record and/or store any and/or all data and/or information regardingand/or pertinent to the search and/or the corresponding results, up tothis point, including the actions of the employer. The operation of theapparatus 100 will thereafter cease at step 213.

If, at step 311, it is determined that the employer wants to pursue anindividual, the operation will proceed to step 314. At step 315, theemployer data and/or information, whether specific, generic, and/orgeneral, is transmitted to the individual and/or individual computer 20.Any data and/or information described as being transmitted between theparties, and/or between the respective computers, can be transmittedelectronically, such as via e-mail, electronic message transmission,telephone call, telephone message, facsimile transmission, pagermessage, and/or physical mail delivery. The individual can review thedata and/or information, at step 315, and transmit a response to thecentral processing computer 10 at step 316.

At step 317, the central processing computer 10 will process theindividual's response and determine if the individual is interested inpursuing discussions with the employer. If, at step 317, it isdetermined that the individual is not interested in pursuing theopportunity, the central processing computer 10 will, at step 318,record and/or store any and/or all data and/or information regardingand/or pertinent to the search and/or the corresponding results,including information concerning the employer, the individual, the timeand date of the consideration, along with any notes made by theindividual or employer, up to this point.

The data and/or information stored at step 318 is stored in the database10H for later use or reference by any individual, employer, and/oroperator or administrator of the apparatus 100. Some or all of the dataand/or information stored in the database 10H may thereafter betransmitted to, and/or stored in, the database(s) 20H and/or 30H of therespective individual computer(s) 20 and/or employer computer(s) 30. Theoperation of the apparatus 100 will thereafter cease at step 319.

If, at step 317, it is determined that the individual is interested inpursuing discussions with the employer, then the central processingcomputer 10 will, at step 320, notify the employer by transmitting amessage to the employer, and/or to the employer computer 30 associatedwith the employer, so notifying the employer. The employer can reviewthe data and/or information, at step 320, and transmit a response to thecentral processing computer 10 at step 321. If the individual's responsehad included a request for additional and/or more specific data and/orinformation, such as, but not limited to, job description, firm resume,references, work samples, salary and benefits information, and/orrequests for authorization to obtain any of the above, and/or any otherinformation of interest to the individual, the employer's response, atstep 321, can include same and/or links to same. The operation of theapparatus will thereafter proceed to step 322.

At step 322, the central processing computer 10 will determine whetherthe employer is interested in pursuing the opportunity with theindividual. If at step 322, it is determined that the employer is notinterested in pursing the opportunity, the central processing computerwill, at step 323, record and/or store this information, along with anyand/or all data and/or information regarding and/or pertinent to thesearch and/or the corresponding results, including informationconcerning the employer, the individual, the time and date of theconsideration, along with any notes made by the employer or individual,up to this point. Thereafter, operation of the apparatus will cease atstep 324.

If, at step 322, it is determined that the employer is interested inpursuing the opportunity, the data and/or information in the employer'sresponse will, at step 325, be transmitted to the individual and/or theindividual computer 20 associated with the individual. The individualcan review the data and/or information, at step 325, and transmit aresponse to the central processing computer 10 at step 326. The responsecan include information as to whether the individual is interested inpursuing discussions with the employer.

At step 327, the central processing computer 10 will process theindividual's response in order to determine if the individual is stillinterested in pursuing the opportunity. If, at step 327, it isdetermined that the individual is not interested in pursuing theopportunity regarding the employer, the central processing computer 10will, at step 328, record and/or store this information, along with anyand/or all data and/or information regarding and/or pertinent to thesearch and/or the corresponding results, including informationconcerning the employer, the individual, the time and date of theconsideration, along with any notes made by the employer or individual,up to this point. Thereafter, the operation of the apparatus will ceaseat step 329.

If, at step 327, it is determined that the individual is interested inpursing the opportunity with the employer, the central processingcomputer 10 will, at step 330, put the individual and the employer incontact with each other by transmitting contact information to either orboth of the individual and/or the employer. The contact information mayinclude the employer's name, address, person to contact, contactindividual at the employer, telephone number, fax number, e-mail, and/orany other contact information for the employer and/or the individual'sname, address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail, and/or any othercontact information for the individual. The employer and the individualmay thereafter proceed with the interview, employment screening, and/orrecruitment, processes.

At step 331, the central processing computer 10 can monitor theinterview, employment screening, and/or recruitment, processes, whichtake place between the employer and the individual. At step 332, thecentral processing computer 10 will record and/or store any and/or alldata and/or information regarding and/or pertinent to the search and/orthe corresponding results, including information concerning theemployer, the individual, any information concerning whether a deal hasbeen reached between the parties, any information concerning offers,counteroffers, rejected offers and/or rejected counteroffers, the timeand date of the consideration, along with any notes made by the employeror the individual, up to this point.

The data and/or information stored at step 332 is stored in the database10H for later use or reference by any employer, individual, and/oroperator or administrator of the apparatus 100. Some or all of the dataand/or information stored in the database 10H may thereafter betransmitted to, and/or be stored in, the database(s) 20H and/or 30H ofthe respective individual computer(s) 20 and/or employer computer(s) 30.The operation of the apparatus 100 will thereafter cease at step 333.

The operation of the apparatus 100 may be terminated by either theemployer and/or the individual at any time. In this manner, a party mayterminate discussions at any time. The employer and/or the individualmay also, at any time, obtain information about, and/or perform researchon, the opposite party by linking to said information and/or researchvia the central processing computer 10 and/or via links and/orhyperlinks which can be inserted in the various e-mails and/orelectronic messages which are utilized and/or transmitted in conjunctionwith the present invention. The information and/or research can beobtained without interrupting the processing of the central processingcomputer 10. In this manner, a party may obtain information and/orresearch about the opposite party, at any time, and without interruptingthe processing of the central processing computer 10.

In another preferred embodiment, the present invention can be utilizedto provide notification of job openings and/or job, contracting,freelancing, and/or temporary position, opportunities, to an individualan/or group of individuals. In this embodiment, the central processingcomputer 10 can be manually activated, automatically activated, and/orprogrammed for automatic activation, so as to perform searches of, andfor, job openings and/or job, contracting, freelancing, and/or temporaryposition, opportunities, and provide an individual and/or group ofindividuals with notification of the availability of same.

FIG. 7 illustrates another preferred embodiment operation of theapparatus of FIG. 1, in flow diagram form. In the embodiment of FIG. 7,the apparatus and method of the present invention is utilized so as toprovide notification of job openings and/or job opportunities to anindividual and/or a group of individuals. In this manner, the presentinvention can be utilized to inform an individual or individuals of jobopenings which may be of interest to him, her, or them, as the jobs orpositions are posted and/or listed with the apparatus 100 by an employerand/or hiring entity.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, an individual who desires to be notified ofany of the herein described job openings, positions, assignments,contracts and/or projects, can list and/or provide their data and/orinformation, i.e., resume, educational qualifications, work experience,skills, references, work samples, and/or any other pertinentinformation, along with the type of job, work, project, and/orassignment, which they seek, with the apparatus 100 and, in particular,with the central processing computer 10, such as via the individualcomputer 20. Thereafter, the individual's data and/or information can bestored in the database 10H. Individuals posting or listing with theapparatus 100 may be subscribers, non-subscribers, and/or one-timeand/or occasional or sporadic users of the apparatus 100.

The individual can also include information regarding the “searchingevent”, the occurrence of which will trigger the central processingcomputer 10 to perform a job search for the individual and notify him orher of the results. The “searching event” can be pre-defined and/or bepre-specified as a date, a time, a time interval(s), a time period(s),events and/or occurrences.

The “searching event” can be requested by an individual, individuals, anemployer, employers, a hiring entity or entities, and/or a recruiter,and may be defined as the occurrence of a new job posting by an employerand/or employers, upon the posting of new and/or revised data and/orinformation from an individual and/or group of individuals, upon a newsrelease of certain business events, employment-related events, economicreports, industry-specific news, and/or any other event which may createan interest on behalf of an employer to fill a position, and/or for anindividual to seek a position, and/or upon the occurrence of anyrecruitment initiating event, the happening of which will activate thecentral processing computer 10. The central processing computer 10 willthereafter proceed to perform a job search of employers and/or jobs inorder to identify jobs or opportunities which may be of interest to,and/or which may be a possible match for, the individual.

The individual can also provide information such as a telephonenumber(s), a facsimile number(s), a pager number(s), an electronic mail(e-mail) address or e-mail addresses, and/or any other information whichwill facilitate a communication from the central processing computer 10to the individual and/or the individual computer 20 associated with theindividual. In this manner, the central processing computer 10 cancommunicate job openings and/or other opportunities which may berequested and/or which may be of interest to the individual. An employercan also provide similar, and/or analogous information to the centralprocessing computer 10. Any and/or all of the data and/or informationdescribed herein as being provided by an individual, an employer, and/ora recruiter, can be stored in the database 10H.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the apparatus 100 can be programmed so asto trigger the central processing computer 10 to perform a job searchfor an individual and, in this manner, any programmed job searchactivity and/or recruitment activity will commence upon the occurrenceof the “searching event”.

The operation of the apparatus 100 commences at step 400. At step 401,the searching event will occur thereby activating the central processingcomputer 10. Thereafter, at step 402, the central processing computer 10will query the database 10H in order to perform a job search for theindividual. The central processing computer 10 will thereafter, at step403, generate a list or report of available jobs and/or employers whichmay meet the individual's criteria, which may be of interest to theindividual, and/or which may be a possible match for the individual.

At step 404, the list or report of jobs will be transmitted to theindividual and/or to the individual computer 20 associated with theindividual. The list or report can be transmitted electronically, suchas via e-mail, electronic message transmission, telephone call,telephone message, facsimile transmission, pager message, and/orphysical mail delivery.

At step 405, the job search process between the individual and theemployer will then proceed in the manner described in steps 210 through233 of FIG. 5, the description of which is hereby incorporated byreference herein. Thereafter, the operation of the apparatus 100 willcease at step 406.

In another preferred embodiment, the present invention can be utilizedto provide notification of individuals, independent contractors,freelancers, and/or temporary workers, who are available for jobopenings, projects, freelance assignments, and/or temporary assignments,to an employer and/or hiring entity and/or to a group of employersand/or hiring entities. In this embodiment, the central processingcomputer 10 can be manually activated, automatically activated, and/orprogrammed for automatic activation, so as to perform searches of, andfor, individuals who may be candidates to fill the job openings and/orthe requirements of the employers and/or hiring entities and provide anemployer and/or group of employers with notification of the availabilityof these individuals.

FIG. 8 illustrates another preferred embodiment operation of theapparatus of FIG. 1, in flow diagram form. In the embodiment of FIG. 8,the apparatus and method of the present invention is utilized so as toprovide notification of individuals, who are available for applying for,and/or for interviewing for, job, job opportunities, and/or employerneeds, to an employer and/or a group of employers. In this manner, thepresent invention can be utilized to inform an employer or employers ofindividuals whom may be candidates for, may be recruiting prospects for,and/or who may be interested in being notified about, any of theemployer's jobs, job opportunities, and/or needs, which are postedand/or listed with the apparatus 100 by the employer or arepresentative.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, an employer who desires to be notified ofan individual or individuals, who may be qualified and/or interested infilling a job or position, can list and/or provide data and/orinformation, regarding the job openings, project openings, freelanceassignments, and/or temporary assignments, including descriptionsthereof, as well as the credentials required for filling and/or forbeing offered the respective job opening, project opening, freelanceassignment, and/or temporary assignment, with the central processingcomputer 10.

The employer can also list and/or provide data and/or information aboutitself, a firm resume, salary structure, benefits packages, firmqualifications, firm references, work samples, and/or any otherpertinent information, with the central processing computer 10, such asvia the employer computer 30. Thereafter, the employer's data and/orinformation can be stored in the database 10H. Employers posting orlisting jobs with the apparatus 100 may be subscribers, non-subscribers,and/or one-time and/or occasional or sporadic users of the apparatus100.

The employer can also include information regarding the “searchingevent”, the occurrence of which will trigger the central processingcomputer 10 to perform a recruitment search for the employer and notifythe employer of the results. The “searching event” can be pre-definedand/or be pre-specified as a date, a time, a time interval(s), a timeperiod(s), events and/or occurrences.

The “searching event” can be requested by an employer, employers, ahiring entity or entities, an individual, individuals, and/or arecruiter, and may be defined as the occurrence of a new job posting byan employer and/or employers, upon the posting of new and/or reviseddata and/or information from an individual and/or group of individuals,upon a news release of certain business events, employment-relatedevents, economic reports, industry-specific news, and/or any other eventwhich may create an interest on behalf of an employer to fill aposition, and/or for an individual to seek a position, and/or upon theoccurrence of any recruitment initiating event, the happening of whichwill activate the central processing computer 10. The central processingcomputer 10 will thereafter proceed to perform a recruitment search ofindividuals in order to identify individuals whom may be interested in,and/or whom may be a possible match for, the employer.

The employer can also provide information such as a telephone number(s),a facsimile number(s), a pager number(s), an electronic mail (e-mail)address or e-mail addresses, and/or any other information which willfacilitate a communication from the central processing computer 10 tothe employer and/or the employer computer 30 associated with theemployer. In this manner, the central processing computer 10 cancommunicate information regarding an individual and/or individuals whommay be of interest to the employer. An individual can also providesimilar, and/or analogous information to the central processing computer10. Any and/or all of the data and/or information described herein asbeing provided by an employer, an individual, and/or a recruiter, can bestored in the database 10H.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the apparatus 100 can be programmed so asto trigger the central processing computer 10 to perform a recruitmentsearch for an employer and, in this manner, any programmed recruitmentsearch activity and/or recruitment activity will commence upon theoccurrence of the “searching event”.

The operation of the apparatus 100 commences at step 500. At step 501,the searching event will occur thereby activating the central processingcomputer 10. Thereafter, at step 502, the central processing computer 10will query the database 10H in order to perform a recruitment search forthe employer. The central processing computer 10 will thereafter, atstep 503, generate a list or report of available individuals whom maymeet the employer's criteria, which may be of interest to the employer,and/or which may be a possible match for the employer.

At step 504, the list or report of individuals will be transmitted tothe employer and/or to the employer computer 30 associated with theemployer. The list or report can be transmitted electronically, such asvia e-mail, electronic message transmission, telephone call, telephonemessage, facsimile transmission, pager message, and/or physical maildelivery.

At step 505, the recruitment search process between the employer and theindividual will then proceed in the manner described in steps 310through 333 of FIGS. 6A to 6E, the description of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein. Thereafter, the operation of theapparatus 100 will cease at step 506.

In any and/or all of the embodiments described herein, any electronicmessages, such as e-mails, electronic message transmissions, pagermessages, telephone calls or messages, facsimile transmissions, etc.,described herein, can be generated and/or transmitted to any of therespective parties, in real-time, thereby providing real-time messagetransmission and/or notification services.

In any and/or all of the embodiments described herein, any electronicmessages, such as e-mails, electronic message transmissions, pagermessages, telephone calls or messages, facsimile transmissions, etc.,which are generated by the central processing computer 10, by theindividual computer 20, and/or by the employer computer 30, may containappropriate hyperlinks, and/or forwarding information, to the partysending the electronic message and/or e-mail, to a third party, to otherinformation, and/or to another information source. In this manner, forexample, an e-mail message, transmitted from and/or on behalf of anemployer to an individual, can contain a hyperlink(s) to the employer'sweb site or web page.

The hyperlink(s) to the employer's web site or web page can provide theindividual with a link to, and/or access to, information about theemployer, links to a video presentation about the employer, theemployer's departments, and/or any other information, video and/orphotographs of the employer's facilities, information regarding certainemployees, job descriptions, benefits, financial and operational dataand/or information, salary information, travel-related service entitiesor travel agents for arranging travel to the employer for interviewand/or other purposes, links to information sources regarding the localeand/or area where the employer is located, etc., and/or any otherinformation which may be of interest to a job applicant and/orprospective employee.

Similarly, any electronic message and/or e-mail transmitted from and/oron the behalf of the individual can contain hyperlinks to additionaldata and/or information which may be of interest to the employer. Thisinformation may include the individual's resume, supplemental resume,supplemental information, references, letters of recommendation, linksto the colleges, universities, and/or schools attended, links topre-authorized letters/forms requesting transcripts from any schoolsattended, links to the registrar's office of the individual's schools,links to past employers, links to work samples, links to videopresentations and/or a video clip of the individual and/or a photographof the individual, and/or links to any other information which may beuseful and/or desirable in the recruiting process.

In another preferred embodiment, including in any and/or all of theembodiments described herein, the present invention can be utilized inorder to allow employers and/or hiring entities to bid for the servicesof individuals, independent contractors, temporary workers, and/orfreelancers. In a similar and/or analogous manner, an individual,independent contractor, temporary worker, and/or freelancer, may offerand/or auction his, her, or its, services to employers and/or hiringentities. Applicant hereby incorporates by reference herein the subjectmatter of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/120,883 whichteaches an apparatus and method for effectuating commerce in a networkenvironment. Applicant also hereby incorporates by reference herein thesubject matter of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/498,143 whichteaches an apparatus and method for effectuating commerce in a networkenvironment.

In this manner, bidding and auctioning activities, related to job searchactivities, recruitment activities, and/or recruitment-relatedactivities, can be utilized in order to fill and/or to obtain any job,employment position, project, and/or assignment, described herein.

When utilized to perform bidding and/or auctioning activities, therespective employer or individual can direct their respective biddingactivity or activities and/or auctioning activity or activities to anysingle, group of, and/or combination of any, party, parities,individual, individuals, employer, employers, and/or hiring entity orhiring entities. The bidding and/or auctioning activities can bedirected to a party, parities, individual, individuals, employer,employers, and/or hiring entity or hiring entities, which may bespecified by the respective initiating party and/or which may beobtained via any of the various search routines, described herein.

Any and/or all respective bidding activities and/or auctioningactivities can be effected via e-mail messages, electronic messagetransmissions, pager messages, facsimile messages, telephone calls ormessages, physical mail delivery, and/or via any other method, meansand/or mode of communication.

Applicant hereby incorporates by reference herein the subject matter ofU.S. Pat. No. 5,862,223 which teaches a method and apparatus for acryptographically-assisted commercial network system designed tofacilitate and support expert-based commerce; the subject matter of U.S.Pat. No. 5,797,127 which teaches a method, apparatus, and program forpricing, selling, and exercising options to purchase airline tickets;and U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,207 which teaches a method and apparatus for acryptographically assisted commercial network system designed tofacilitate buyer-driven conditional purchase offers.

Applicant also hereby incorporates by reference herein the subjectmatter of U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,272 which teaches a method and system forestablishing and maintaining user-controlled anonymous communications;U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,270 which teaches a method and system forfacilitating an employment search incorporating user-controlledanonymous communications; U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,497 which teaches anelectronic automated information exchange and management system; U.S.Pat. No. 5,758,324 which teaches a resume storage and retrieval system;U.S. Pat. No. 5,696,702 which teaches a time and work tracker; U.S. Pat.No. 5,416,694 which teaches a computer-based data integration andmanagement process for workforce planning and occupational readjustment;and U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,897 which teaches an automated method forselecting personnel matched job criteria.

In another preferred embodiment, including in any and/or all of theembodiments described herein, the present invention can be utilized forproviding scheduling services for, and/or on behalf of, any of theindividuals and/or employers described herein. In this embodiment, thepresent invention can maintain work schedules, and/or scheduling dataand/or information, of and for individuals, independent contractors,temporary workers, and/or freelancers. The present invention can alsomaintain the work schedules, and/or scheduling data and/or information,of and for employers and/or hiring entities, including dates and/ortimes when the employer and/or hiring entity will, or may, be in need ofhelp or assistance which can be provided by any of the individuals,independent contractors, temporary workers, and/or freelancers describedherein.

The above-described schedules, and/or scheduling data and/orinformation, can be stored in the database 10H of the central processingcomputer 10. The schedules, and/or scheduling data and/or information,can also be stored and/or provided at any of the respective individualcomputers 20 and/or employer computers 30 described herein, and/or maybe stored in any of the respective databases 20H and/or 30H.

An employer may utilize the schedules and/or scheduling data and/orinformation in order to reserve, engage, and/or request, the services ofan individual. An employer can access the central processing computer 10and access data and/or information concerning the work schedules of acertain individual and/or the work schedules of any number ofindividuals. The individual or individuals may be identified via arecruitment search as described herein and/or may be an individualand/or individuals already known by the employer and/or recommended tothe employer. The employer may review the schedules and/or schedulingdata and/or information until it identifies an individual and/orindividuals who is or are acceptable and available for the dates and/ortimes, as well as places, needed by the employer.

Once the employer locates an individual and/or individuals, the employercan reserve, engage, and/or request, the services of the individual orindividuals by transmitting an appropriate message from the employercomputer 30 to the central processing computer 10. The message caninclude the amount which the employer is willing to pay for theindividual's services. Thereafter, the central processing computer 10will transmit a message to the individual computer(s) 20 associated withthe individual or individuals, and/or otherwise notify the individual orindividual.

The individual or individuals may receive the message in real-timeand/or otherwise. The individual or individuals may thereafter confirmthe reservation, agree to the engagement, and/or reply to the request,respectively, via transmitting a message from the individual computer 20to the central processing computer 10. Thereafter, the centralprocessing computer 10 will transmit a message to the employer computer30 of the employer, thereby notifying the employer of the confirmedreservation, the confirmed agreement to the engagement, and/or thereply, respectively. Thereafter, the employer and the individual orindividuals can be put into contact with one another and/or contact oneanother as they see fit.

In another embodiment, the central processing computer 10 can beprogrammed to confirm a reservation, agree to an engagement, and/orissue a reply, respectively, for, or on behalf, of an individual orindividuals.

In another preferred embodiment, the central processing computer 10 canbe programmed to provide an employer with conditions under which theindividual and/or individuals will agree to a reservation, anengagement, and/or a request. One of these conditions can includepayment in advance, a down payment, and/or an option payment, for theservices of the individual or individuals. In this embodiment, thecentral processing computer 10 can administer and/or maintain afinancial account for, or on behalf of any of, the individuals and/oremployers described herein. The financial accounts may be bank accounts,electronic money accounts, credit accounts, debit account, and/or anyother accounts for facilitating financial transactions. The centralprocessing computer 10 can make a payment and/or transfer, on behalf ofan employer, from the employer's account, to an individual's account orto accounts of individuals, thereby receiving payment for, or on behalfof, the individual or individuals, whichever the case may be.

As noted above, the employer may also secure and/or reserve the servicesof an individual, by purchasing an option from the individual, or personor entity representing the individual, for the respective individual'sservices, with the price of said option being determined by usingconventional financial options pricing models and/or methods. Applicanthereby incorporates by reference herein the subject matter of Options,Futures, and Other Derivatives, Third Edition, by John C. Hull, PrenticeHall, 1997.

An individual may utilize the schedules and/or scheduling data and/orinformation in order to offer services to an employer. An individual canaccess the central processing computer 10 and access data and/orinformation concerning the work schedules or needs of an employer or anynumber of employers. The employer or employers may be identified via ajob search as described herein and/or may be an employer and/oremployers already known by the individual and/or recommended to theindividual. The individual may review the schedules and/or schedulingdata and/or information, until it identifies an employer and/oremployers may be in need of the individual's services.

Once the individual locates an employer and/or employers, the individualcan offer the individual's services to the employer or employers bytransmitting an appropriate message from the individual computer 20 tothe central processing computer 10. The message or offer can include theindividual's fee or the amount of charge for the services. Thereafter,the central processing computer 10 will transmit a message to theemployer computer(s) 30 associated with the employer or employers,and/or otherwise notify the employer or employers.

The employer or employers may receive the message in real-time and/orotherwise. The employer or employers may thereafter accept or reject theoffer via transmitting a message from the employer computer 30 to thecentral processing computer 10. Thereafter, the central processingcomputer 10 will transmit a message to the individual computer 20 of theindividual, thereby notifying the individual of the acceptance orrejection of its offer. Thereafter, the individual and the employer oremployers can be put into contact with one another and/or contact oneanother as they see fit.

In another embodiment, the central processing computer 10 can beprogrammed to accept or reject, an offer to provide services, for, or onbehalf, of an employer or employers.

In another preferred embodiment, the central processing computer 10 canbe programmed to provide an individual with conditions under which theemployer and/or employers will accept an offer. One of these conditionscan be that a bond or guarantee must be posted for guaranteeing that theservices will be performed as agreed upon. In this embodiment, thecentral processing computer 10 can administer and/or maintain afinancial account for, or on behalf of any of, the individuals and/oremployers described herein.

The financial accounts may be bank accounts, electronic money accounts,credit accounts, debit account, and/or any other accounts forfacilitating financial transactions. The central processing computer 10can make a payment and/or transfer, on behalf of an individual, from theindividual's account, to an employer's account or to accounts ofemployers, thereby receiving payment for, or on behalf of, the employeror employers, whichever the case may be.

The individual may also secure a job, position, project, and/orassignment, by purchasing an option for same from the employer, or arepresentative of the employer, with the price of said option beingdetermined by using conventional financial options pricing models and/ormethods.

In another preferred embodiment, as well as in any and/or all of theembodiments described herein, the present invention can generateelectronic catalogs and/or electronic coupons for use by employers, topublicize and/or to advertise jobs, employment positions, projectsand/or assignments, which they wish to fill, and/or by individuals,employment agencies and/or their agents and/or representatives, topublicize and/or to advertise their services, and/or the services ofthose who they represent, as well as their respective availabilityand/or desire to perform and/or to fill and/or assume a job, employmentposition, project and/or assignment.

In this manner, an employer can generate and/or distribute electroniccatalogs and/or electronic coupons, thereby publicizing and/oradvertising any jobs, positions, projects and/or assignments, andelectronically distribute same to individuals and/or employment agencieswho or which can be identified by querying the database 10H and/or byutilizing any other appropriate search method and/or criteria.Individuals, and/or their representative(s), and/or employment agencies,may generate and/or distribute electronic catalogs and/or electroniccoupons in order to publicize and/or to advertise the individual'scredentials, services, availability, and/or desire, to fill or assume ajob, position, project, and/or assignment, to employers and/or hiringentities.

Applicant hereby incorporates by reference herein the subject matter andteachings of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/137,689which teaches an apparatus and method for providing an electroniccatalog and/or an electronic coupon. Applicant also hereby incorporatesby reference herein the subject matter and teachings of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/579,358 which teaches an apparatus and methodfor providing an electronic catalog and/or an electronic coupon.

Any and/or all of the electronic catalogs and/or electronic couponsdescribed herein can be generated and/or transmitted as e-mail messagesand/or electronic message transmissions and can include textinformation, resume information, video information and/or audioinformation.

Any and/or all of the electronic catalogs and/or electronic couponsdescribed herein can be generated automatically by the centralprocessing computer 10 and/or by any individual computers 20 and/oremployer computers 30. Any of the central processing computer 10, theindividual computer(s) 20 and/or the employer computer(s) 30 can beprogrammed to generate and/or to transmit any of the e-mails, electronicmessage transmissions, electronic catalogs and/or electronic couponsdescribed herein.

In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus and method of the presentinvention can be utilized for performing and/or for facilitating theprovision of recruitment services for schools, colleges, universities,and/or any organizations of any kind. In this embodiment, information inthe form of text messages, video messages, audio messages, video clips,audio clips, infomercials, electronic catalogs, e-mail messages, etc.,for publicizing and/or for promoting any of the herein-describedschools, colleges, universities, and/or any organizations of any kind,can be stored at the central processing computer 10 and can be providedto any individuals who or which utilizes the apparatus and method of thepresent invention.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can also provideand/or facilitate the provision of any of the herein-describedrecruiting and/or recruitment services for attracting individuals to,and/or recruiting individuals for, any of the respective schools,colleges, universities, and/or any organizations of any kind.

Any and/or all of the e-mails, electronic message transmissions,electronic catalogs and/or electronic coupons, described herein, can begenerated, transmitted and/or distributed, in response to a posting of anew job, a new employment position, a new project, and/or a newassignment, a listing and/or a posting of an individual(s), changes tothe employment status, resume, skills, educational status, etc., of anindividual(s), the occurrence of an event concerning the economy, thework needs of individuals, the needs of employers and/or hiringentities, and/or at specific times, at specified time intervals, and/orupon the occurrence of any event and/or occurrence which can be thebasis for initiating a job search and/or a recruitment search.

In another preferred embodiment, as well as in any of the embodimentsdescribed herein, intelligent agents, software agents, mobile agents,and/or related technologies, can be utilized in conjunction with thepresent invention. The respective intelligent agent(s), softwareagent(s), mobile agent(s), (hereinafter referred to collectively as“intelligent agent” or “intelligent agents”) can be programmed and/ordesigned to act on behalf of a respective individual, employer and/orhiring entity, so as to perform any of the job searches, recruitmentsearches, and/or any of the other activities and/or functions describedherein. The intelligent agent can act on behalf of the individual,employer and/or hiring entity, in various related interactions,negotiations, and/or other activities which are described as beingperformed herein and/or which may be incidental and/or related thereto.

An individual can utilize an intelligent agent(s) in order to find,identify, and/or locate a job, position, project and/or assignment. In asimilar and/or an analogous manner, the employer and/or hiring entitycan utilize an intelligent agent(s) in order to find and/or locateindividuals to fill a job, position, project and/or assignment.

Applicant hereby incorporates by reference herein the subject matter ofthe Agent Sourcebook, A Complete Guide to Desktop, Internet and IntranetAgents, by Alper Caglayan and Colin Harrison, Wiley Computer Publishing,1997. Applicant also incorporates by reference herein the subject matterof Cool Intelligent Agents For The Net, by Leslie L. Lesnick with RalphE. Moore, IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. 1997.

In any and/or all of the embodiments described herein, the presentinvention can provide links and/or hyperlinks, on-line, on-screen, ine-mail messages and/or in electronic message transmissions, and/orotherwise, to any and/or all products and/or services related to jobsearching and/or recruiting. For example, the present invention canprovide links to information regarding the location of an employer,links to a travel agent, links to transportation companies, rental carcompanies, hotels and other lodging establishments, as well as links toresume services, employment agencies, recruiters, temporary agencies,etc.

The present invention can also provide links to attorneys, banks,financial institutions, insurance companies, bonding companies, etc.,and/or other individuals and/or entities, the services of whom or whichmay be needed and/or may be recommended when hiring an individual, anindependent contractor, a temporary worker, and/or a freelancer, and/orwhen accepting and/or assuming responsibility, respectively, for a job,a position, a project and/or an assignment.

The present invention can also provide for the automatic notification ofjob openings, position openings, projects, and/or assignments, theavailability of individuals, job applicants, independent contractors,and/or freelancers, and/or the availability of goods and/or serviceproviders, to any of the respective parties described herein who mayutilize the present invention.

In another preferred embodiment, as well as in any and/or all of theembodiments described herein, the present invention can provide anindividual, employer and/or hiring entity, with data and/or informationconcerning attrition rates at individual employers and/or hiringentities, as well as salary information, including salary surveys forparticular jobs, professions, etc., including salary, benefits, and/orother compensation, data and/or information for various experiencelevels, skill levels, skills and abilities, educational credentials,and/or other data and/or information which may be utilized by theindividuals, employers and/or employer entities, and/or recruiters,described herein.

The above-described data and/or information can be provided by job orprofession type, by market sector, by type of employer, and/or bylocation and/or geographic region. For example, an individual mayutilize the data and/or information provided by the present invention inorder to determine what compensation the market will bear for his or hercredentials and/or skill levels. An employer can also utilize thisinformation in order to be competitive in its recruitment efforts and/orfor otherwise attracting talented individuals.

The present invention can also provide an individual, an employer and/orhiring entity, and/or a recruiter, with data and/or informationregarding the latest developments and/or current developments in theemployment and/or recruiting fields, including, but not limited to,growth areas, demand information for certain jobs and/or professions,etc. For example, an individual can utilize this information in order todetermine whether retraining is needed in order to attain a certainposition and/or to ascertain the latest growth areas for certain jobs,careers and/or professions. An employer can utilize this information inorder to determine the state of the job market and utilize theinformation as it sees fit.

The present invention can also be utilized in order to providenotification to any of the individuals, employers and/or hiringentities, described herein, that information is being, and/or has been,requested about them. The present invention can also provide theidentity of the requesting party to the respective individual, employerand/or hiring entity. For example, an individual can be notified thatcompany A has requested information about him or her. Similarly, anemployer can be notified that an individual and/or a certain individualhas requested information about it. The present invention may alsomaintain any and/or all information requests as confidential, if sorequested.

In this embodiment, any and/or all of the data and/or informationdescribed herein, may be provided, requested, and/or accessed, by any ofthe respective parties. Any such notification embodiments can alsoprovide for the blockage of any such notification by a requesting party.Also, any and/or all information utilized and/or provided in any suchnotification embodiments can also be provided as group information,generic information, and/or as information representative of a group, ora trend.

In any and/or all of the embodiments described herein, the presentinvention can also provide data and/or information, which may betransmitted and/or provided to any of the respective individuals,employers and/or hiring entities, to any number of, or groups of, thirdparty or other individuals, employers, and/or hiring entities.

The present invention can be utilized by any individual, employer and/orhiring entity. The present invention can also be utilized by arecruiter, a recruiting entity, a headhunter, an agent, an employmentagency, etc., in representing an individual, an independent contractor,and/or a freelancer. For example, a recruiter can utilize the presentinvention in order to assist others in finding jobs, positions, projectsand/or assignments, and/or to assist employers and/or hiring entities tofind individuals to fill jobs, positions, projects and/or assignments.

The present invention can also be utilized in order to prevent certainindividuals and/or entities, employers and/or hiring entities, fromaccessing the data and/or information about any other individual,entity, employer, and/or hiring entity. For example, an individual canprevent access, to his or her data and/or information, by a presentemployer, a past employer, and/or any other individual, entity, employerand/or hiring entity identified by the individual, specifically,generically, and/or generally. In this manner, an individual can preventa present employer and/or any other individual, entity, employer and/orhiring entity, from learning about his or her job search and/oravailability. Similarly, an employer and/or hiring entity can preventcertain individuals, entities, employers, and/or hiring entities, fromlearning of its recruitment efforts and/or human resource and/oremployment needs.

Access restrictions to any data and/or information can be effected byutilizing any data and/or information security and/or access preventionmethods, technologies and/or techniques, known by those skilled in thepertinent arts.

In any and/or all of the herein-described embodiments, the operation ofthe present invention may be triggered by any type of pre-specifiedevent and/or occurrence which may include a new individual listing, anew employer and/or hiring entity listing, a departure of an individualfrom the employ of another, the completion of a job, project and/orassignment, changes in an economic factor(s), changes in a marketfactor(s), an increase in an unemployment rate, the unemployment of anindividual, a detected need for jobs of a certain skill, and/or anyother event, situation, and/or occurrence which may be pertinent and/orrelated to job searching efforts and/or recruitment efforts.

The apparatus of the present invention, in any and/or all of theembodiments described herein, can also be programmed to beself-activating and/or activated automatically.

The apparatus of the present invention can also be programmed in orderto automatically generate and/or transmit any of the e-mails, electronicmessage transmissions, electronic notification transmissions, and/or anyof the communications, which are described herein, between any of theparties which utilize the present invention.

In another preferred embodiment, as well as in any and/or all of theembodiments described herein, the present invention can be utilized inorder to monitor, record, and/or keep track of, any offers and/orrejections of offers, involving any jobs, employment positions, projectsand/or assignments, which occur in conjunction with and/or via use ofthe present invention. The information which is obtained can thereafterbe provided to individuals, employers, and/or recruiters, forutilization in any appropriate and/or suitable manner.

In any and/or all of the embodiments described herein, any individualand/or employer data and/or information can be stored with variousand/or varying levels of specificity and/or confidentiality. In thismanner, any of the data and/or information described herein, can befiltered, can be released at varying times, depending upon the interestand/or comfort levels of the parties, and/or can be maintained asconfidential. In this manner, the respective parties can maintainconfidentiality and/or can exercise control over the nature and amountof data and/or information which can be released about themselves.

The apparatus and/or method of the present invention can be utilized asan electronic and/or network-based job searching and/or recruitmentsearching apparatus and/or clearinghouse. Applicant hereby incorporatesby reference herein the subject matter of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/132,301 which teaches an apparatus and methodfor monitoring an advertisement and/or an advertisement location.

In any and/or all of the embodiments described herein, any interactions,negotiations, and/or deals reached, between any of the parties, can bemonitored and/or be recorded by the central processing computer 10 andbe stored in the database 10H. In this regard, any interviews,interactions, communications, actions and responses thereto, offers,counter-offers, acceptances and/or rejections, can be recorded and/or bestored and utilized in any manner consistent with the operation and/oruse of the present invention as described herein.

The present invention, in any and/or all of the herein-describedembodiments, can utilize electronic commerce technologies and securitymethods, techniques and technologies, as described and as set forth inElectronic Commerce Technical, Business, and Legal Issues, Nabil R.Adam, et al. Prentice Hall, 1999 and Web Security & Commerce, SimsonGarfinkel with Gene Spafford, O'Reilly 1997, the subject matter of whichare hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The communications networks and/or systems on, or over, which thepresent invention may be utilized, can include any one or combination oftelecommunication networks or systems, satellite communication networksor systems, radio communication networks or systems, digitalcommunication networks or systems, digital satellite communicationnetworks or systems, personal communications services networks orsystems, cable television networks or systems, broadband communicationnetworks or systems, low earth orbiting satellite (LEDs) networks orsystems, as well as in, or on any internets and/or intranets, theInternet, the World Wide Web, and any other suitable communicationnetwork or system.

Any and/or all of the data and/or information described herein can becompiled and processed using statistical calculations in order to updatethe stored data and/or information with such data and/or informationbeing made available to the respective individuals, employers and/orhiring entities, who or which utilize the present invention.

Any and/or all of the data and/or information described herein, which isstored in the database 10H, or in the collection of databases, can belinked via relational database techniques and/or via any appropriatedatabase management techniques. The data and/or information, in thepreferred embodiments, can be updated via inputs from the respectiveindividuals, employers and/or hiring entities, and/or administrator oroperator of the apparatus 100 and/or the central processing computer 10.The above-described updates can also be provided from other informationsources via the communication network.

The data and/or information stored in the database 10H, or in thecollection of databases, and/or any other databases utilized inconjunction with the present invention, can be updated by each of therespective individuals, employers and/or hiring entities, and/oradministrator or operator of the apparatus 100 or the central processingcomputer 10, in real-time, and/or via dynamically linked databasemanagement techniques.

The data and/or information which is stored in the database 10H and/orwhich may be otherwise utilized with, and/or in conjunction with, theapparatus and method of the present invention, can be linked via anysuitable data linking techniques such as, for example, dynamicallylinked lists (DLLs), linked lists, and object links embedded (OLE's).Any suitable database management technique(s) may also be utilized inconjunction with the present invention.

The present invention can be utilized in conjunction with job searches,recruitment searches, and/or related activities, for any kind of job,service, vocation, profession, employment position, independentcontractor project, project, freelance assignment, assignment, and/orany other kind or variety of work or services, permanent and/ortemporary, and/or regardless of duration and/or type.

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for providingautomated job searching services, recruitment services, and/oremployment agent and/or agency services, in a network environment, whilereducing the time, expense and effort needed in performing theseservices.

The present invention can also be utilized in conjunction withelectronic catalogs and/or electronic coupons in order to provideelectronic catalogs and/or electronic coupons containing informationregarding any of the job search applicants, prospective employees,independent contractors, employers, assignments, available jobs orpositions, contract positions, contracting assignments, employmentagency services, and/or other individuals and/or entities describedherein, so as to advertise the availability or existence of therespective individuals and/or entities. Applicant hereby incorporates byreference herein the subject matter and teachings of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/137,689 entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODFOR PROVIDING AN ELECTRONIC CATALOG AND/OR AN ELECTRONIC COUPON”.Applicant hereby incorporates by reference herein the subject matter andteachings of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/579,358 entitled“APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN ELECTRONIC CATALOG AND/OR ANELECTRONIC COUPON”.

The present invention can be utilized in conjunction with any job,assignment, position, employment position, service, contractingassignment, and/or any independent contracting position and/or freelanceposition, which can be the subject of commerce.

The present invention can be utilized, in any and/or all of theembodiments described herein, in conjunction with the buying, selling,bartering and/or trading, of services between the various parties,individuals, employers, and/or hiring entities described herein.

The present invention can be utilized in order to reduce recruitingefforts, costs and fees, such as headhunter fees, agency fees, brokerfees, and/or representative fees, and can eliminate the inefficiencieswhich may result from dealing with intermediaries in job search effortsand/or recruitment efforts.

The present invention also provides an apparatus and a method forproviding enhanced confidentiality during job search activities,assignment search activities, recruitment activities, and/or relatedactivities, interactions, negotiations and/or other dealings, betweenthe respective parties involved.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated invarious preferred and alternate embodiments, such descriptions aremerely illustrative of the present invention and are not to be construedto be limitations thereof. In this regard, the present inventionencompasses all modifications, variations and/or alternate embodiments,with the scope of the present invention being limited only by the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a memory device forstoring work schedule information or scheduling information for anindividual, an independent contractor, a temporary worker, or afreelancer; a receiver for receiving a first request, wherein the firstrequest contains information regarding a request to obtain work scheduleinformation or scheduling information for the individual, theindependent contractor, the temporary worker, or the freelancer, whereinthe first request is received from a first communication deviceassociated with an employer or hiring entity; a processing device forprocessing information contained in the first request, wherein theprocessing device generates a first message containing the work scheduleinformation or the scheduling information for the individual, theindependent contractor, the temporary worker, or the freelancer; and atransmitter for transmitting the first message to the firstcommunication device, wherein the apparatus processes informationcontained in a second request and reserves, engages, or requests, theservices of the individual, the independent contractor, the temporaryworker, or the freelancer.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thememory device stores work schedule information or scheduling informationfor a plurality of individuals, independent contractors, temporaryworkers, or freelancers.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theprocessing devices processes information regarding a search to identifythe individual, the independent contractor, the temporary worker, or thefreelancer.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second requestcontains information regarding an amount the employer or hiring entityis willing to pay the individual, the independent contractor, thetemporary worker, and or the freelancer.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the receiver receives a reply message transmitted from thesecond communication device, wherein the reply message containsinformation regarding a confirmation of the reservation, an agreement tothe engagement, or a reply to the request, wherein the transmittertransmits a second reply message to the first communication device,wherein the second reply message contains information regarding theconfirmed reservation, the confirmed agreement to the engagement, or thereply to the request.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatusis programmed to confirm the reservation, agree-to an engagement, orissue a reply, for or one behalf of the individual, the independentcontractor, the temporary worker, or the freelancer.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the apparatus is programmed to provide informationregarding a condition under which the individual, the independentcontractor, the temporary worker, or the freelancer, will agree to areservation, an engagement, a request, a payment in advance, a downpayment, or an option payment, regarding the services of the individual,the independent contractor, the temporary worker, or the freelancer. 8.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus processes informationfor allowing the employer or hiring entity to purchase an option for theservices of the individual, the independent contractor, the temporaryworker, or the freelancer.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theapparatus makes a payment or transfer from a financial accountassociated with the employer or hiring entity, receives a payment for afinancial account associated with the individual, the independentcontractor, the temporary worker, or the freelancer, or administers afinancial account for the employer or hiring entity or the individual,the independent contractor, the temporary worker, or the freelancer. 10.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is utilized on or overthe Internet or the World Wide Web.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the apparatus is utilized with a wireless communication network.12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus processesinformation regarding a bidding activity for services of the individual,the independent contractor, the temporary worker, or the freelancer.